Manhole explosions send 1 to hospital, force evacuations in downtown Boston

Boston Police and Fire are responding to multiple manhole explosions on Federal Street near South Station on Thursday morning. At least one person was taken to the hospital with injuries.

Police said fires were first reported just after 8:30 a.m. The explosions shattered window of an office building on High Street, forcing people inside to evacuate.

Streets in the area are closed to both cars and pedestrians.

Boston Fire Department Deputy Chief Brian Tully told reporters that elevated carbon monoxide levels were found in nearby buildings, which he said were "a byproduct of the explosion." Crews were working to drop those levels with equipment.

Tully said Eversource and National Grid were also on scene to investigate what may have caused the explosion.

"When we're using a ton of electricity and power, the equipment is just being overused, overtaxed and eventually, once in a while, something breaks," Tully said. "But I believe the energy system in our city is safe and I wouldn't worry about that."

A National Grid spokesperson said later Thursday morning that the utility found it was not a natural gas issue and none of their customers were impacted.

This is a developing story. It will be updated as information becomes available.