Texas Tech University has shut down its campus and sent students home early for spring break after a series of explosions and manhole fires, the university said in an emergency alert.
An explosion at a substation near the school Wednesday evening caused power outages across campus, the university said. Conditions quickly devolved, with the university reporting a “gas odor” on campus. Videos on social media later showed green-colored flames leaping from manhole covers.
University officials evacuated parts of the campus and forbade staff members from returning to their offices. Access to the university’s Engineering Key — the central area of campus where the gas odor was detected — was restricted.
Videos posted on social media showed smoke billowing up from the street on campus and flames leaping out of manhole covers.
The college, in Lubbock, Texas, was scheduled to begin its weeklong spring break hiatus on Monday, but it opted to send students home early.
By late Wednesday, students were permitted to re-enter residence halls, but the university urged staff members not to return to their offices. Power remained out across campus, the university said.
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