Boston: Woman hospitalized with burns after two manholes exploded

A woman has been hospitalized with steam burns after two manholes exploded in downtown Boston.

The blasts shattered windows, poured smoke into the street and led to the evacuation of two buildings.

The blasts were reported around 8:30 a.m. near High Street and Federal Street in the city’s financial district.

The cause of the blasts is currently unknown, but Deputy Fire Chief Brian Tully told a news conference there “may have been an overpressure situation”.

The Boston Fire Department said in a tweet that two buildings were evacuated and one person was taken to a hospital by emergency medical services.

The woman suffered burns, possibly from steam, Mr Tully said.

After the blast, firefighters inspected nearby buildings for smoke and elevated levels of carbon monoxide.

Electric utility Eversource has also responded to help with the investigation, said William Hinkle, a spokesman for the utility.

No utility crews were working in the area at the time, and no customer lost power, he said.

The emergency measures also caused traffic problems.

Two ramps from Interstate 93 in the area were closed, according to the State Transportation Department, and some surface roads were also closed.

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