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A manhole explosion near Penn Station in midtown Manhattan has snarled traffic in the area.

The blast occurred at the corner of Eighth Avenue and 35th Street at 10:16 a.m. Wednesday. It produced flames that quickly dissipated. But smoke and an acrid odor hung over the busy commercial area.

Police evacuated The New Yorker hotel and the studios of Al Jazeera America.

There are two affected manholes on West 35th Street and 8th Avenue. One belongs to Verizon.

8th Avenue remains temporarily closed from West 34th Street to West 36 Street.

FDNY, NYPD, Con Ed, NYCT and Verizon are on scene.

There are no reported impacts to subway service or utilities in the area.

(YWN Desk – NYC)