Loud Boom Scares Commuters At Rockefeller Center: NYPD

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Commuters were given a scare during the Monday evening rush hour by a loud boom and smoke at the Rockefeller Center subway station, fire and police officials said.

A fire broke out in the station's basement around 5:40 p.m. — causing smoke to fill parts of the station — and was placed under control shortly before 7 p.m., an FDNY spokesman said. The spokesman said the fire was electrical and said the city fire marshal will investigate its cause.

Police officials said that the source of the fire may be a mechanical room at the subway station and confirmed that a "loud boom" was heard.

Nobody was reported injured during the fire.

Commuters took to social media to share their reactions to the fire, saying that the scene at the station was frenzied when people heard the boom and saw smoke.

"Does anyone know what is going on in the Rockefeller Center subway stop? Flashing lights, a loud boom followed by dust coming out from the ceiling and a loud overhead alarm?? Everyone (including me) ran out," one witness said on Twitter.

Another Twitter user said that the fire was visible at a Dunkin' Donuts location in the station and that people feared the boom was some sort of terrorist attack.

The NYPD do not suspect the fire was criminal, a department spokesman said.