Like a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie, the skyline of New York was lit up in an eerie shade of blue after an incident at power facility in Queens on Thursday night, alarming residents and sparking reactions on social media.
The incident also forced the city's LaGuardia airport to temporarily shut down.
The New York Police Department said it appeared that a transformer had exploded at a campus operated by Consolidated Edison, a major energy company in the US. The fire had been brought under control, it added.
ADVISORY: The lights you have seen throughout the city appear to have been from a transformer explosion at a Con Ed facility in Queens. The fire is under control, will update as more info becomes available. Follow @fdny, @NYPD114pct and @conedison. pic.twitter.com/fdzQKs1wVV
- NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 28, 2018
Con Edison also confirmed that a fire had broken out at their facility.
We're working with the @FDNY to respond a substation fire in Astoria and will provide updates as soon as we have more information. AQ
- Con Edison (@ConEdison) December 28, 2018
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson tweeted that the LaGuardia Airport was “temporarily closed due to a power outage resulting from the Con Edison explosion.”
Social media users flooded Twitter and Facebook with images and videos of the incident.
#astoria pic.twitter.com/SxgVK6MYkJ
- Cindi Kinsily (@cindiKINSily) December 28, 2018
- Frank Vela (@fvelalazo) December 28, 2018
From Jersey Riverfront pic.twitter.com/WFgWTtoDLH
- NJ Swingsets (@NJSwingsets) December 28, 2018
#NYC #nycsky Strange blue lights over new York skyline pic.twitter.com/n7FKxAm8FM
- Anu (@Anu16692451) December 28, 2018
Massive New York City electrical fire at Astoria power plant #astoriapowerplant pic.twitter.com/3GHdxRnVRM
- Anthony Sevarino (@SevarinoAnthony) December 28, 2018
What are with all these lights in New York? Am I living in a sci-fi film/TV show? pic.twitter.com/soEP8D57LL
- Hye Jun (@hyejunie) December 28, 2018
It wasn't immediately clear if anyone was hurt in the transformer explosion or how many people were left without power, local media reported.
