Explosion at Grand Central Terminal

Our better half just reported from her mobile that she was evacuated from Grand Central Terminal around 6 pm, with smoke and rumbling in the area, people moving north and east to get away from the area. So far nothing on TV news or websites...

Update 6:15 pm:

Gothamist contributors report possible transformer explosion, white smoke, fire truck leading ConEd truck down Lexington.

Update 6:27 pm:

According to another Gothamist contributor, "channel 7 just confirmed, large transformer explosion that is now a 4 alarm fire"

Update 6:33 pm, from NY1.com:

The fire department is saying that the source of the smoke is a transformer explosion at 370 Lexington Avenue. Sources say the area surrounding 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue has been closed off.

Officials say the attack is not terrorist related.

The five-alarm fire is causing Number 4, 5, and 6 trains to bypass Grand Central Station.

Emergency crews are on the scene. There are no words yet of injuries.

Update 7:00 pm:

Apparently a steam pipe exploded through the street at 370 Lexington. According to NY1.com, "steam and mud shot through a gaping hole in the ground...local news sources are reporting that some people were lying in the street injured...the area between 39th Street and 47th Street and between Third and Lexington Avenues has been closed off."

Update 7:18 pm:

Eyewitness photos of the immediate aftermath at the scene - uploaded from an iPhone, to boot - at http://selectroclash.wordpress.com/

Update 7:31 pm:

Great cutaway diagram of the city's "district steam system" - the largest municipal steam in the world - from ConEd's website:

The full-size version can be downloaded here, along with more info about the system:
http://www.coned.com/newsroom/energysystems_steam.asp

Update 7:36 pm:

WNBC.com reports on casualties: "Up to 11 people may have been injured, according to officials. Two are in critical condition at Cornell, while a third person is still being evaluated. Eight others have been taken to Bellevue, but their condition is not known."

A WNBC-TV viewer, reporting on Gothamist Contribute, says a city Office of Emergency Management Official being interviewed said "A 20-inch steam main exploded. Advice to anyone still in the area is to evacuate - there could be contaminants in the air."