WATCH: New York's massive Con Edison explosion during Hurricane Sandy
A failing transformer blindingly lights up the Manhattan sky, knocking out power for tens of thousands of customers

As Superstorm Sandy tore through New York City on Monday night, a transformer at a Con Edison plant on 14th Street exploded in a series of bright bursts of light that eerily resembled a scene from an apocalyptic movie. (Watch the video below.) The blast shut down power for tens of thousands of customers in the borough of Manhattan. Michael Bloomberg says it may take days before electricity is finally restored. No injuries were caused by the blast, says Pix11 in New York, but observers were more than a little freaked out. "There was an explosion about 5 minutes ago and I could see blue sparks coming from the plant!" emailed Pix11 viewer Mario Camilla. "The plant is dark and smoke stacks are not lit up!" The explosion reportedly may have been caused by flooding or flying debris. See for yourself:
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Calls for both calm and consequences follow Kirk killing
TALKING POINTS The suspected assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk has some public figures pleading for restraint, while others agitate for violent reprisals
-
Why does Donald Trump keeping showing up at major sporting events?
Today's Big Question Trump has appeared at the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500 and other events
-
‘Democracy is under threat globally’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day