A massive emergency response is being reported at DC’s Tenleytown metro station, where people are being evacuated following an explosion and fire. Witness accounts have begun emerging on social media.
People reported hearing blasts and seeing flames and smoke underground.
Images from the scene show dozens of responding emergency vehicles with lights flashing. Witnesses spotted a stretcher being carried out.
8 fire trucks outside Tenley #metro. Ambulances too. Ppl evacuated saying explosion and fire. #wmata#dc
— Travis Van Horn (@TravisVanHorn) April 23, 2016
Social media messages described the panic on a smoke-filled Red Line train.
Local authorities have reportedly blocked off the area between Albemarle Street and Wisconsin Avenue.
Red Line: Train service is suspended btwn Van Ness & Medical Center due to fire dept activity at Friendship Heights. Bus service available.
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) April 23, 2016
Most people that were being evacuated complained of the “incompetence” of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), stating that communications had been horrible.
Just stuck on a smoke-filled Red Line train. Not sure what was more terrifying 1)panicking riders or 2) wmata incompetence. #metrosucks
— Chuck Holmes (@chuckatnpr) April 23, 2016
DC Fire and EMS have tweeted out that there had been no casualties, but there is still smoke between the Friendship Heights & Tenleytown/AU stations.
No injuries /transports – getting ready to hand things over to @wmata – still some smoke issues between Friendship Heights & Tenleytown/AU.
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) April 24, 2016
The incident was caused by “trouble inside a mechanical room,” DC Fire and EMS reported on its Twitter account.
According to the emergency response team, the heavy smoke is concentrated around an insulator that caught on fire at the platform.
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Via RT. This piece was reprinted by RINF Alternative News with permission or license.