Social media was abuzz Saturday evening about what looked to be a massive power outage across New York City.
Reports began to come in later in the evening that the “Manhattan power outage is believed have been caused by a transformer fire at 54th St. and West End Ave.,” NBC News reported being told by a senior city official.
The New York City subway was reportedly frozen as power and lights cut off around dusk in the Big Apple.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said it is working with New York City energy company ConEdison to restore service to several crippled subway lines. “Several stations are currently without power and are being bypassed by all trains,” said MTA, which also advised people to stay out of underground subway stations as power is being restored.
The power outage, which has put at least 40,000 ConEdison customers without power, marks 42 years to the day since the notorious blackout of 1977, which left millions in New York City without power for almost 48 hours.
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Update: As of 11:45 p.m. New York City officials say all power has been restored.
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Update: New York City Mayor and 2020 Presidential candidate Bill de Blasio spoke to CNN about the blackout, watch below.
Video captures moment power returns on 44th and 9th Ave. in Manhattan. https://t.co/a0q176Z4cU
(Video by @anna_marcuss) pic.twitter.com/YX2AsbU3M3
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 14, 2019
wait. for. it. #Blackout pic.twitter.com/ueFx0e2BZi
— Rob Bennett (@rob_bennett) July 14, 2019
Here’s a map of the part of Manhattan that lost power
More updates here: https://t.co/LQqC7HNzk2 pic.twitter.com/3WaDHcn3WY
— NYT Metro (@NYTMetro) July 14, 2019
Video shows Penn Station without power during Midtown Manhattan blackout. https://t.co/p7BEXpA0qJ
(Video: Juan Pablo Pinilla Hernandez) pic.twitter.com/E5JIxVIau2
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 14, 2019
The West Side of Manhattan at the moment. pic.twitter.com/KsJw2O8ex2
— Zach Haberman (@ZHaberman) July 14, 2019
The blackout is between W 42nd St and 72nd St, from the Hudson River to as far as 5th Ave. NYPD has confirmed that there’s no foul play. This was a mechanical issue. NYPD & FDNY are currently responding to people with the most urgent needs, especially those stuck in elevators.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) July 14, 2019
.@conedison is currently working to restore power in the west side of Manhattan. Power outage was due to a manhole fire. @nypd & @fdny are currently responding to calls in the area. Please remain calm and stay safe. @NYPDCT units remain deployed at key locations in #NYC. pic.twitter.com/oCrxwBqPgr
— NYPDCounterterrorism (@NYPDCT) July 14, 2019
?On July 13, 1977, a power failure plunged New York City’s nine million residents into a nearly 24-hour electrical blackout pic.twitter.com/AsUn5pEivu
— RetroNewsNow (@RetroNewsNow) July 14, 2019
Getting darker in Manhattan… patches of darkness… #Blackout 2019? https://t.co/WFiRxEUBvV pic.twitter.com/eCxpQAHQuL
— Oren Segal (@orensegal) July 14, 2019
Good evening. We apologize for the inconvenience. We are aware of your neighborhood outage. Unfortunately, we do not have an estimated restoration at this time.
— Con Edison (@ConEdison) July 14, 2019
(Upper West Side, Manhattan) Major Blackout in Columbus Circle — Developing: Power is out in multiple buildings on Broadway from 55th St to 59th St after a nearby transformer fire. Updates here: https://t.co/QFCq6IlWeQ #CitizenApp #ProtectTheWorld pic.twitter.com/cnpNwARqgr
— Citizen NYC (@CitizenApp_NYC) July 13, 2019
.@NYCEmergencyMgt is working with the NYPD, FDNY and city agencies to respond to power outages in Manhattan due to a manhole fire earlier this evening. Disruption is significant.
We’ll have further updates soon — please follow @NotifyNYC.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) July 14, 2019
Times Square is down, i repeat, Times Square is down. This is not a drill!! #Blackout #NYC pic.twitter.com/8IUfER7ozl
— Sahid Abraham (@Sahid0) July 13, 2019
Our @Van_Tieu is currently at the intersection of West 58th and Broadway, where she sees that all the traffic lights are out. pic.twitter.com/tLSl8wFVto
— Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) July 14, 2019
Police must be overstretched, pedestrians now directing traffic during Manhattan power outage #blackout pic.twitter.com/XCHnaMaUO2
— Chantalle Edmunds (@chantallenews) July 14, 2019
Iconic buildings such as Radio City Music Hall and much of the facade of the Times Square video display went dark.
Fox News headquarters also went out, as well as 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
#Blackout in Manhattan. Half of Times Square remains on pic.twitter.com/vVW4n308g3
— Natalie Zhang (@nat_zhang) July 13, 2019
City officials have received dozens of reports of people stuck in elevators.
NYPD/FDNY receiving dozens of calls for people stuck in elevators because of the major power outage in Manhattan.
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) July 13, 2019
There’s a power outage right now in New York City – 42 years TO THE DAY of the great 1977 NYC blackout!
Here’s WABC’s 11 p.m. news from that night. https://t.co/dOcj3FEZpf
— Jesse Horne (@Jesse_Horne) July 13, 2019
We had power for several minutes after others started reporting the outage. Now it’s out here too. #blackout #nyc pic.twitter.com/znXbw647PG
— Josh Wellman (@joshwellman) July 13, 2019
@NYCTSubway @ConEdison @NBCNewYork power outage at 5thav and 53st pic.twitter.com/GWFpdP300T
— Philip Matuskiewicz (@philmatu) July 13, 2019
We’re just walking down the middle of the street #Blackout pic.twitter.com/o95rXQysx4
— Derek Turner (@DCT_Sports) July 13, 2019
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.
