Cambridge, Massachusetts – Students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) were left in the dark after a manhole explosion near W85 and Tang Hall caused power outages in several buildings along Amherst Alley, known as Dorm Row. The incident occurred in the early hours of May 6, prompting a response from the Cambridge Fire Department. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but students faced challenges as power had not been restored to the affected buildings.
An MIT Alert notification sent at 1:24 a.m. listed W85, Tang Hall, Next House, New House, and McCormick among the buildings impacted by the outage. In Next House, students found themselves trapped in elevators, requiring firefighters to come to their rescue. As of now, all individuals have been safely evacuated from the elevators.
Authorities later determined that the power outage stemmed from damage to MIT’s electrical equipment caused by the manhole explosion. Repair work was underway, although a timeline for complete power restoration was not provided. Despite the challenges posed by the outage, limited lighting remained in some residences, and internet connections were maintained through backup generators.
The situation prompted mixed reactions from students, with some expressing frustration over issues like lost refrigeration and interrupted meal preparation. Reports emerged of lights flickering briefly at New Vassar around the time of the explosion, adding to the unexpected disruptions caused by the incident.
This event is not the first of its kind in the region, as previous instances of manhole explosions have been reported in nearby areas in recent months. Weather conditions, such as rainfall and cable failures, have been linked to similar incidents near other universities. The timing of the MIT campus explosion coincided with a period of heavy rain in Cambridge and Boston the night before.
While power outages are not uncommon, the last notable incident on MIT’s campus happened in 2012 when large parts of the surrounding area went dark. The university continues to address the aftermath of the recent manhole explosion, striving to restore normalcy to the affected buildings. For further updates on the situation, individuals can visit the MIT emergency website for the latest information.