New York police are examining a new video capturing three individuals exiting a manhole in Manhattan. This incident follows similar events previously determined to pose no public threat. The video, shared on TikTok, depicts the individuals in overalls with what appear to be headlamps, emerging from a manhole located at 32nd St and 7th Avenue, near key landmarks like Penn Station and Madison Square Garden. The occurrence was reported to have taken place after 4 a.m. on August 18, according to the video poster, as per NBC News.
The New York Police Department confirmed awareness of the video. A spokesperson indicated ongoing investigations, with no arrests made yet. A check of the area’s sewer system found no damage, noted in a statement from the city’s Department of Environmental Protection. The department emphasized that entering sewers is illegal and highly dangerous due to risks such as harmful gases, unstable surfaces, potential flooding, and confined spaces. They strongly advised the public against accessing pipes, drains, or manholes.
This video revives memories of incidents in different city parts from May. Although it’s uncertain whether the August event is linked to earlier ones, individuals from both occurrences wore protective clothing and headlamps. Notably, on May 5 in Astoria, Queens, a man was observed lifting a manhole cover around 2 a.m., allowing seven men to emerge, changing clothes at nearby intersections.
In another May account, seven men came out of a manhole during a period of active traffic on a street near Heyward Street and Bedford Avenue, some wielding shovels. At that time, a senior law enforcement official suggested the men were likely scavenging for valuables. The police found no immediate public threat and observed no damage to the sewer infrastructure. In June, the NYPD reported deploying the Emergency Services Unit to inspect the sewers thoroughly, ensuring nothing harmful had been left behind, confirming that nothing was detected.