Texas Tech Explosion Causes Early Spring Break
On Wednesday evening, an explosion at Texas Tech University in Lubbock caused fires and power outages, leading to building evacuations and class cancellations for the rest of the week. The explosion happened inside a manhole in the Engineering Key area of campus, sending flames and smoke into the air.
Students and staff reported hearing a loud blast and seeing smoke rising high above the campus. One doctoral student described a “smoke ring” shooting about 200 feet into the air. Firefighters arrived quickly and found multiple manholes with active fire and smoke. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
University officials shut down power to the entire campus while crews worked on repairs. The school urged students to leave early for spring break, though those living on campus were advised to stay in their dorms until daylight before traveling. Emergency responders asked people to avoid the affected areas to ensure safety.
At this time, the cause of the explosion remains unknown. Some reports suggested it may have happened at a substation, but officials have not confirmed any details. Investigators are looking into the situation, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Videos from social media and news reports showed firefighters surrounding the affected area, with flames and smoke still rising from the manholes. The sudden explosion and widespread outages disrupted campus life, forcing many students and staff to leave the area immediately.
Texas Tech has over 40,000 students and spans 1,800 acres in West Texas. The school is working to ensure campus safety before reopening. University officials are closely monitoring the situation and will notify students and staff when it is safe to return.
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