A bizarre overnight incident in Brooklyn has prompted an investigation after more than a dozen people were spotted climbing into and out of New York City’s sewer system.
According to the New York Police Department, the first incident unfolded in the neighborhood of Gravesend on Thursday (May 28). Authorities say several individuals were seen entering a manhole around 11 p.m. before resurfacing roughly three hours later.
Hours later, police received reports of a second group using another manhole approximately eight miles away. Investigators say the group descended underground shortly after 1 a.m. and reemerged a few hours later before leaving in a vehicle.
The unusual activity triggered a response from multiple agencies, including the NYPD, the New York City Fire Department, the NYPD K-9 Unit, and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
After conducting searches of both locations, authorities said they found no immediate hazards or evidence that anyone remained inside the sewer system. The 62nd Precinct of the NYPD later announced that a comprehensive sweep had been completed and that the affected areas were deemed safe.
While investigators continue working to determine why the individuals entered the sewers, city officials stressed that doing so is both illegal and extremely dangerous.
The DEP warned that sewer systems can contain a wide range of life-threatening hazards, including toxic gases, sudden flooding, unstable surfaces, and confined spaces that can quickly become deadly. Officials urged residents never to enter manholes, drains, pipes, catch basins, or other parts of the city’s underground infrastructure.
Local elected officials echoed those concerns. Council Member Susan Zhuang praised the response from emergency personnel and emphasized that the incident should serve as a reminder of the risks associated with entering the sewer system.
“What happened in Gravesend and Bedford Avenue this week was dangerous, illegal, and cannot be dismissed,” Zhuang said in a statement. “Our sewers contain deadly gases, unstable surfaces, and serious flooding risks.”
Authorities are now investigating whether the two groups were connected and what may have motivated them to access the underground network.
No arrests have been announced, and police have not yet identified the individuals involved.
