An explosion at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, triggered fires and power outages Wednesday evening, prompting evacuation orders for several campus buildings and the cancellation of classes for the remainder of the week.
The explosion, as occurring at a substation, was later updated to have taken place at a manhole. No injuries have been reported, according to Lubbock Fire Rescue Capt. Jon Tunnell.
Videos shared on social media and local news outlets showed heavy firefighter presence on campus, with visible smoke and flames emanating from at least one manhole cover. The cause of the explosion remains unclear.
In response to the ongoing emergency, power to the entire campus will be shut down while repairs are underway, said Caitlynn Jeffries, a spokesperson for the university’s police department. "You can go ahead and go home for Spring break. We are closing school down for the next couple days," Jeffries added.
Faculty and staff have been instructed to work remotely until further notice. Earlier in the evening, Lubbock Fire Rescue responded to reports of a possible gas leak and discovered several manhole covers releasing smoke and fire.
“This remains a very active scene as crews continue to assist Texas Tech University in mitigating this emergency,” Tunnell stated.
With over 40,000 students, Texas Tech is located on 1,800 acres in West Texas. The university is taking steps to ensure the safety of its community while repairs and investigations into the explosion continue.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ