An absolutely wild blue light lit up the New York City night sky after a power plant explosion occurred in Queens. Before the light show’s explanation got out, many were wondering if it was an alien invasion and honestly, I don’t blame them.
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Speaking with NBC New York, the Con Edison power plant said some transformers at the substation on 20th Avenue and 32nd Street tripped offline and started a fire, which is what lit up the sky. Residents in Astoria and Queens said the explosion was so bright, it was almost as if it were daytime.
The light show was immense and could be seen from as far as Manhattan, with residents across the city stopping to take pictures and video to post to social media. No injuries have been reported, but some areas of the city have experienced blackouts, including the LaGuardia Airport.
Apparently this is a fire at the Astoria Power plant – as seen from Jersey City. Hope everyone is ok! #nyc #queens #newyork #bluelight #bluelights #aliens #astoria #powerplant #fire #blackout #newyorkcity #besafe #electrical pic.twitter.com/D7XZZDZyEA
— Simone Bachmann (@viking_gal) December 28, 2018
Per @NYPD114Pct there was a generator explosion at the ConEd plant in #Astoria with no injuries at this time. No reported damage to nearby homes. We’ll share more info on possibility of brownouts or changes when we have it
— Costa Constantinides (@Costa4NY) December 28, 2018
— Brendan (@_b_squared__) December 28, 2018
Something is happening in Manhattan or Queens… like an explosion pic.twitter.com/LUd4m04lnN
— Zair Montes (@zairmontes) December 28, 2018
Massive blue light over Queens. Crazy!!! What in the world?!?!?!?! @NYCMayor pic.twitter.com/Z14WDNClIX
— Rich Villodas (@richvillodas) December 28, 2018
What is going on on out towards Queens? Strange very bright light show. #nyc pic.twitter.com/n5pSH7GqPj
— Jacob Trevino, PhD (@JTrevinoNano) December 28, 2018
OH MY GOD THE SKY IS BROKEN #Astoria Is this how it ends? pic.twitter.com/Xvzxep1vf8
— Marie (she/her) (@lalalalalemon) December 28, 2018
#ConEd explosion in #Astoria. Yikes. pic.twitter.com/gZWmlINCXi
— Jackie Papers (@Str8Bear_in_SF) December 28, 2018
View from my roof insane pic.twitter.com/ekLyolAPO5
— kjones4215 (@kjones4215) December 28, 2018
And of course, it wouldn’t be social media coverage without a generous sprinkling of taking the piss.
I’m in #Astoria queens and this mother fucker just showed up at my local bodega pic.twitter.com/pTKNK06x86
— McThanos (@mcthanos2) December 28, 2018
BREAKING: new photo from the #Astoria ConEd power plant pic.twitter.com/wspe1MJMQe
— Jason Whorehees (@curtieeland) December 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/jtchan77/status/1078485463667757056
https://twitter.com/coolghost101/status/1078481515539968000
YO THIS IS HOW SOMEONE ENDS UP GETTING SUPER POWERS. #BlueLight #Astoria
— Omy Melo 🐀 (@OmyMelo) December 28, 2018
Yep, that is some Independence Day-looking shit. Here’s hoping that injury count stays at zero.