BREAKING NEWS ALERT: Explosion in Downtown Savannah Shuts Off Power, Closes Streets

Savannah Fire and SCMPD tell NEWS 3 an explosion in downtown Savannah has shut down several streets and businesses.

It happened at Bay and Drayton St. Firefighters say flames are coming from manhole covers.

River St. is closed and is being evacuated. Bay St. is closed between Abercorn and Whitaker.

Police advise the public to avoid all manhole covers on Bay St., River St., and surrounding areas.

Swann Seiler with Georgia Power tells NEWS 3 there are underground network problems.

Three manhole covers have exploded and there is burning in an underground vault.

Crews are trying to isolate the area so that power can be restored.

There is no pedestrian access to the area. At this point—no one has been injured.

CEMA is asking people to stay out of these areas:

Bay St. to Broughton St.

East Broad St. to MLK Blvd.

As of 9:20 a.m. areas without power: Oglethorpe to River, Habersham to MLK.

The Holiday Inn Express on East Bay St. is being used as shelter by the Red Cross for evacuees. The Red Cross has also sent an ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle), and a disaster action team to canteen emergency workers.

APO Gene Harley with SCMPD says area agencies have gone into critical alert mode, where specialized precincts from around the county come in to assist in emergency operations. The Chatham County Sheriff's Dept. is assisting with road closures.

Georgia Power is trying to re-route some power to another substation, however CEMA says that Georgia Power indicates electricity may be out into the evening hours.

Anyone with special needs that is out of power due to the explosion is urged to call 911 if assistance is needed.

CEMA tells NEWS 3 the area inside Whitaker to Lincoln and Liberty Street to River Street is expected to remain closed for at least the next eight to 24 hours.

Power outages will continue through the day in these areas: (As of 10:20 a.m.)

Fourr to Six Hours – within the boundaries of MLK Blvd. to Lincoln St., and Liberty St. to River St.

Six to Eight Hours – within the boundaries of Whitaker St. to Lincoln St., and Liberty St. to River St.

Eight Hours or more – within the boundaries of Whitaker St. to Drayton St., and Bay St. to River St.

NEWS 3 has several crews on the scene.

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