Manhole Cover Blows, Geyser Erupts onto Wyandotte Streets

A manhole cover located in the center of the intersection at 8th and Orange streets blew due to an apparent build up of pressure at about 7 p.m. Thursday, according to Wyandotte resident Karla Ring.

Ring said an abundance of rainwater caused pressure to build inside the sewer system resulting in a geyser powerful enough to cause a manhole cover to pop like a cork.

Superintendent Gary Ellison, of Wyandotte Public Services, said he was familiar with the phenomenon, but had never seen it for himself. 

"That's a county (sewer) line, so there's a lot of water all coming to the same place from multiple communities, pushing air and water," Ellison said.

Ellison added manhole covers like the one displaced in the photo weigh about 90 lbs.

Have you ever seen anything like this? Tell us about it in the comment section below!