Orchestra Hall Hit By Minor Sewer Gas Explosion

A pair of explosions near Orchestra Hall Sunday morning had manhole covers flying and neighbors talking.

A first blast occurred about 8:10 a.m. Sunday, followed by a second a half-hour later. According to Fox 2, the explosions damaged the Detroit Symphony Orchestra building at Woodward Ave. and MLK Jr. Boulevard and blew two manhole covers up in the air.

Although the DSO had workers in the structure at the time, no one was injured.

DTE Energy spokesman Len Singer told The Huffington Post an electrical cable failure in an underground conduit on Woodward Ave. caused an explosion of sewer gas in the conduit.

"I'll use the word 'explosion' loosely," Singer said. "When there's a buildup of gases, an electrical failure causes an expansion of gases."

DTE briefly cut power to the two blocks around the DSO building to allow an investigation. Singer said the area experienced no power loss due to the actual blast and that the cable is being repaired.

DSO closed the building Monday to allow public safety officials to investigate. The DSO website and online ticket service will also be offline Monday. WXYZ reports Wayne State University's Big Bands concert slated for Monday will have to be rescheduled.

UPDATE: 3:35 PM -- The DSO announced on its website that the building would reopen for business as usual Tuesday morning.