Lubbock, Texas – An explosion at a manhole rocked the Texas Tech University campus, leading to fires, power outages, and the evacuation of several buildings. Classes were canceled for the rest of the week as a precaution. Despite the chaos, no injuries were reported, according to Lubbock Fire Rescue Capt. Jon Tunnell.
The incident prompted the university to issue an emergency notification, urging people to steer clear of the campus due to the widespread power outages affecting both Texas Tech University and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. In response to the situation, the college made the decision to start Spring Break immediately, shifting plans ahead of schedule. This adjustment allowed students to leave campus and address the unexpected disruption.
Videos from social media and local news outlets captured the intense firefighter presence on the campus, along with flames and smoke emanating from the affected manhole. The cause of the explosion remained unclear, leaving students and faculty concerned about what led to such a dramatic event.
As repairs were underway, Caitlynn Jeffries, a spokesperson for the university’s police department, informed the community that power would be disconnected from the entire Lubbock campus. This decision was made to ensure the safety of all individuals on the premises during the maintenance work. Faculty and staff were instructed to work remotely until further notice, while students were encouraged to utilize the unplanned Spring Break to stay away from the campus until normal operations could resume.
Texas Tech University, home to over 40,000 students on its expansive 1,800-acre campus in West Texas, faced a temporary disruption in its operations. The Texas Tech Police Department continued to monitor the situation and advised the public to stay away from the campus until the issue was resolved completely. The incident brought attention to the need for safety precautions and emergency plans in place for unexpected events on university campuses.