NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Two women were injured by flying debris after an explosion at a parking garage in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday night, officials said.
The women, both 25, were walking past the garage at 160 E. 53rd St. around 9 p.m. when a steel exhaust vent flew across the street and hit them, according to FDNY Deputy Chief Joseph Abbamonte.
Officials believe some sort generator malfunction caused the blast that sent the debris airborne.
Abbamonte said “there was some sort of backdraft or a back puff of the generator that caused the vent assembly to explode and come off of the building, propel across the street into the two individuals.”
Citizen App video shows debris scattered across the roadway as the FDNY and NYPD respond to the scene.
Both women were taken to a hospital, one in serious condition and the other with minor injuries. They are expected to recover.
While authorities believe the blast was accidental, an investigation into the cause is ongoing.