Wild video shows a car erupting into flames in New York’s Lower Manhattan near Wall Street, then exploding and sending up a giant plume of thick black smoke. The explosion occurred just outside the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) headquarters near the iconic Charging Bull statue during rush hour.
At approximately 5:42 p.m. local time, the New York Fire Department reported receiving a call for emergency personnel about a car fire near Broadway and Stone Street. Videos captured by nearby witnesses show the car engulfed in flames just before it bursts into a huge fireball, forcing nearby pedestrians and drivers to quickly evacuate the area. Following the explosion, a massive plume of black smoke that appeared to be at least a half a block wide covered the area.
The MTA acknowledged to the New York Post that the vehicle was one of theirs. A photo posted on social media shows the burned remnants of the car sitting on the street outside a Starbucks.
The fire reportedly took nearly 90 minutes to completely control. Emergency personnel successfully stopped the fire from spreading to adjacent cars and structures.
So far, no one has reported any injuries. Officials have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, and an official investigation is underway. There was no indication of criminal activity or foul play, according to officials.