Several People Seen Emerging from Manhattan Manhole as Police Investigate

Three men in black waders and headlamps were recorded climbing out of a manhole near West 32nd Street and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan at about 4:20 a.m. on Aug. 18. The footage, posted on TikTok, shows the men running away after emerging. The New York Police Department confirmed it is aware of the incident and is investigating, but no arrests have been made.

The sighting adds to at least three other reported cases this year in which individuals entered the city’s sewer system and later emerged. In May, groups in Brooklyn and Queens were captured on security cameras descending into manholes wearing protective gear, carrying tools and flashlights, and leaving the area in waiting vehicles. Some participants were later charged with trespassing.

Authorities have not linked the latest event to the earlier ones. Detectives have suggested that some of the underground visitors could be migrants searching for discarded items, while police sources have also raised the possibility of a social-media stunt. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection said its post-incident inspection found no damage to infrastructure and reiterated that entering the sewer system is illegal and hazardous.

"DEP works closely with our public safety partners to help ensure the safety and security of critical infrastructure throughout New York City. Entering the sewer system is both illegal and extremely dangerous. Sewers can contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and confined spaces," a DEP spokesperson told the publication.

"Members of the public should never enter a pipe, drain, catch basin, manhole, or outfall," the spokesperson added.