Friday, July 10, 2015

Underground transformer blew up in Philadelphia, forcing evacuations, power losses

Manhole explosion caught on camera

Posted: July 10, 2015

The incident forced the evacuation of several buildings, shut down several nearby streets and cut power to about 100 customers. (Source: KYW/CNN) The incident forced the evacuation of several buildings, shut down several nearby streets and cut power to about 100 customers. (Source: KYW/CNN)

PHILADELPHIA, PA (KYW/CNN) - 

Video captured smoke and flames erupting from a manhole in Philadelphia.

Smoke shot up from the manhole after an underground transformer reportedly blew up Thursday.

The explosion forced the evacuation of several buildings and shut down several streets in the area.

About 100 customers lost power for a couple of hours, including a nearby hair salon.

"We had clients in here, we had to ask them to go home. The ones whose hair was still wet had to go down to the pizza shop to use the blow dryers in there," said Michelle Fratangeli with Tundella Salon.

There's no word on what may have caused the transformer to explode.