Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Here's The Most Dramatic Video Of The Con Ed Substation Explosion (So Far)
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 31, 2012
Modified Oct 31, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 31, 2012
Modified Oct 31, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
This stunning video, which appears to be taken from the Williamsburg waterfront, shows the dramatic explosion of the East Village Con Ed Substation that knocked out power to parts of downtown Manhattan. The blast happened during the Hurricane Sandy surge at approximately 9 p.m. on Monday night, casting a large swath of the island into darkness. We knew the explosion was a big one, but this video really conveys its frightening magnitude:
The power downtown is not expected to be restored for several more days, and by the looks of that explosion, you can sort of understand why. Still, the lack of electricity and, in some cases, running water, is a major problem for hundreds of thousands of people throughout Manhattan. (As of yesterday afternoon, Con Ed said 250,000 homes and businesses were without power.) Here's a closer look at the grim realities of life downtown these days.
Tagged
con ed
frankenstorm
hurricane sandy
sandy
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: Who's giving out those chic little Nordic gummies this Halloween?
Because the status trick-or-treat candy has arrived, here are your early links: NYC Marathon-themed early voting sticker, New Jersey's Socialist Party on the rise, Herald Square billboard fight and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 26, 2026 at 10:01 a.m. ET
In East Brooklyn, aging NYCHA homes get a $636M upgrade
The improvements to at the Reid & Park Rock developments come has the agency wrestles with a multibillion-dollar backlog in needed repairs.
By
Willow Higgins
News
In East Brooklyn, aging NYCHA homes get a $636M upgrade
The improvements to at the Reid & Park Rock developments come has the agency wrestles with a multibillion-dollar backlog in needed repairs.
By
Willow Higgins
What NYers can expect as open enrollment for health insurance begins
By
Caroline Lewis
Why New Yorkers should care about bats beyond spooky season
By
Catalina Gonella
Serbians forced to wait hours to vote at NYC consulate as Balkan nation holds election
By
Jill Webb
and
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .