My wife and I were relaxing for a few minutes at the W on Lexington and 39th, when the rumble started. Our window was facing North and the thick black smoke was coming around and through the building separations and heading quickly towards our window. it was surreal.
It was a loud consistent thunder that we heard and felt, not an explosion, but seeing the smoke that high was frigthening.
We bolted, I twittered and I have yet to check the news. Just getting info from readers.
Vijay just sent me this:
steam pipe exploded near Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. More than 20 people were injured, two critically
I heard about the explosion from your twitter than NYTimes. Isnt it crazy Howard.
Twitter didnt help me because I have it turned off so I only broadcast, but it felt good to warn people somehow.
Most amazing is the amount of people I knew as my wife and I headed south on Park. Small world getting smaller by the hour.
Right near my old office.
Could have been me, chomping on a donut, crossing the street, then bam.
Steamed to death.
Fucked up.
Weird, Howard. I was right around the corner from you (Park between 39th and 40th) and had the identical experience as the smoke/steam blew west from Lex. I couldn’t get a connection on my mobile, so texting and Twitter were my only contact with my wife in Jersey. And both were faster than CNN for her.