A number of buildings at Texas Tech College in Lubbock have been evacuated Wednesday night time after officers mentioned an explosion in a manhole close to a substation brought about a number of fires that could possibly be seen rising from underground throughout elements of the campus and widespread energy outages within the space.
Emergency officers, who have been known as about studies of a fuel leak simply after 7 p.m. close to campus, discovered flames capturing out of manholes, a Lubbock Fireplace official mentioned throughout a press convention. Video from the Texas Tech campus posted by native information station KCBD reveals inexperienced flames spewing from one manhole.
“It’s too early to say precisely what we’re coping with there,” Lubbock Fireplace Captain Jon Tunnell mentioned throughout the press convention when requested in regards to the trigger for the hearth’s discoloration.
A college spokesperson additionally confirmed there was an underground explosion inside one manhole on campus close to Engineering Key, a central portion of the campus, which prompted evacuations in that space. No accidents have been reported, however a fireplace official simply previous 10 p.m. Wednesday mentioned the campus was nonetheless a “very lively” scene.
The explosion brought about outages throughout campus and on the close by Texas Tech Well being and Science Middle. A spokesperson mentioned energy has been shut all the way down to your complete campus as repairs start. Officers had no data on whether or not appointments on the well being heart, which can also be experiencing energy outages, could be affected.
Scholar halls haven’t been evacuated, nonetheless college students have been inspired to keep away from campus in the event that they weren’t already current and depart within the morning if they’re able to accomplish that. Spring Break for Texas Tech college students was set to start out Monday, nonetheless the college introduced it will likely be closed for the rest of the week.
Disclosure: Texas Tech College has been a monetary supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan information group that’s funded partly by donations from members, foundations and company sponsors. Monetary supporters play no position within the Tribune’s journalism. Discover a full record of them right here.
This text initially appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/texas-tech-university-lubbock-explosion-closure/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and fascinating Texans on state politics and coverage. Be taught extra at texastribune.org.
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