A significant emergency response was mobilised in New York City on Tuesday after a substantial leak of alcohol-based hand sanitiser created a dangerous situation, prompting building evacuations and major disruptions to the subway system.
The incident began around 2:30 PM at a storage facility located at 15 West 36th Street in Midtown Manhattan. A large container, holding approximately 55 gallons of the flammable liquid, ruptured. The potent vapour cloud quickly permeated the building and began seeping into the underground subway tunnels.
Emergency Services Swing Into Action
The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) responded with a major deployment, including more than 100 firefighters. Their immediate priority was to assess the air quality and mitigate the fire risk posed by the highly flammable ethanol vapours. Hazmat teams were dispatched to the scene to handle the volatile situation.
"We had a large spill of a hand sanitiser product which is alcohol-based. The odour migrated through the building and into the subway system," an FDNY spokesperson confirmed. The building and affected areas of the nearby subway station were swiftly evacuated as a precaution.
Commuter Chaos Underground
The leak caused significant travel chaos during the afternoon rush hour. Service on the MTA's B, D, F, and M lines was severely impacted as trains were forced to bypass the 34th Street-Herald Square station—one of the system's busiest hubs—due to the strong chemical odour and safety concerns.
Commuters above ground faced their own challenges, with multiple city blocks around the incident cordoned off by police, creating a sizable exclusion zone for public safety.
Containment and The All-Clear
Firefighters worked diligently to contain the spill and ventilate the affected areas. After thorough monitoring, authorities confirmed that the vapours did not reach levels high enough to pose an immediate explosion risk. The all-clear was given later in the evening, allowing residents and workers to return to the building and normal subway service to resume.
The incident highlights the potential hazards associated with storing large quantities of flammable products, even common ones like hand sanitiser that became ubiquitous during the pandemic.
