A generator exploded in the basement of the massive Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue in Midtown this afternoon, according to the FDNY.
The call reporting the explosion came in 1:09 p.m., firefighters told Metro.
The explosion did not cause a fire, but the basement and lobby of the hotel filled with black smoke from the blast, and the building lost electric power.
Two of the 24 elevators in the illustrious hotel stopped working as a result of the power loss, and six people were trapped inside the lifts for approximately 45 minutes.
After they got out, one woman who was trapped was so shaken by the incident, she had to be carried out of the hotel on a stretcher, and was treated for stress-related problems.
“I didn’t know what was happening,” said the woman, a member of the hotel housekeeping staff who didn’t want to give her name. “I was very scared and nervous.”
Firefighters said they’re not sure what caused the blast, but an investigation is being carried out.
The explosion gave two electricians who were working in the area minor burn injuries, according to Division 3 Fire Chief Jim Hodgens. Both men were taken to New York Hospital.
At the time the building was evacuated, the Hilton was running at a maximum occupancy of 3,000 people.
