Why do London’s manholes keep exploding?
Every month or so, somewhere in London, a manhole explodes. It’s so common that it doesn’t make the news unless it’s spectacular or someone gets injured. Here’s why, complete with gratuitous pyrotechnics.
Filmed by Perspective Pictures
Pyrotechnics by Paul at Darkstar Pyrotechnics
News articles:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/11169183/Explosion-in-city-street.html
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/pavement-explodes-yards-from-pedestrians-and-cars-in-old-street-a3568676.html
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/819198/london-manhole-cover-explodes-old-street
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@TomScottGo
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
I was worried that the end of this video was a bit of an anticlimax, but, well, I guess it's supposed to be.
@s4sausage135
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
am i the only one a little dissapointed the manhole cover behind him in the intro didnt pop jus the universe has a sense of comedic timing
"the odds of a manhole cover exploding when your near it are tiny"
manhole cover in the backround goes up in puff of smoke and some flames
"but i guess its not zero"
@Minecraft-pj4hm
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
I am not worried – I don't live in London or go there.
@Max_Toons
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Actually, Shredder hired Foot Soldiers with explosives.
@dynadean7244
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Oh I thought it was the military blowing up the worldwide child trafficking tunnels ! Silly me .
@jamiemoss5983
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
I bet that the lfb gets lots of calls to the explosive junction box fires
@adamzieba8364
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
1:06 A sudden short-circuit in an underground 3-phase 10000V cable due to damaged or weakened insulation can be quite violent because there is usually a powerful electric arc that turns moisture in the ground into steam in an instant and of course the arc itself is very dangerous to anyone being close. Circuit breakers protecting power lines react much slower than those installed in homes.
Some 10 years ago there was a short circuit in an underground cable in my home city of Łódź and it sent a flagstone flying into the air. Luckily nobody was hurt.
@EricPalmer_DaddyOh
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Years ago we were in downtown Boston MA USA and a manhole exploded. The manhole cover went at least 10 feet into the air. In the USA manhole covers are round and weigh 250 lbs. We were probably 20 feet away and it scared the tar out of us.
@haruhisuzumiya6
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Gas pipes and a fuse
Explosions and fire: thats a bomb
@sillywillyrb
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
expectation: kaboom
reality: poof
@yotu9670
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
😂😂
@guysheppard7682
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
The Mithbuster did this.
@EpixOrBust
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
why is the manhole cover square? is that a UK thing or was it just easier to use a square cover than find a circular one?
@rickrandom6734
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
I have heard manholes can explode in these less developed countries. I am lucky not living in one of them.
@into_the_void
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
I used to be a mighty warrior, until i took a manhole cover to the knee
@RumataAstorsky
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
british
@mandinhapicles
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
London's what?
@pete-crow
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Pity we cant get Khan stood on top of one when it goes
@Paul71H
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Are London manhole covers square, as shown in your test explosion? Just curious, because in the US they're circular. I've been to London, but I can't recall noticing the manhole covers.
@prndlprndlprndl
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
No way it did the "are you in yet?"
@barryphillips7327
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
I imagine this due to under ground sewers ( there will be gases from the sewers ) and electrical cables, fart = methane gas highly inflammable explosive gas, many videos of people lighting their own fart.
@timesnewlogan2032
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
I’m more worried about where the manhole cover lands.
@alymiles1477
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Let's ndon you see today is built on multiple layers of old London, two the later table is riding, all the rotting vegetation from the last 2000 years,is rotting making lamp glass/bog gas pockets of this at around 3% will explode I did the work for tfl
@HelpICantThinkOfACleverName
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
British manhole covers are square? They're circular here in the US.
@lumberjackofalltrades
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
except for the flying manhole cover, ive stood near fireworks going off with more oomph. scary, to be sure. not all that deadly
@Larsbor
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
…Thank you… (doesnt get more British than that 🙂 😊
@jackman5840
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Sorry thats not just fine.
@xArchesx
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
"chances are tiny" well bro, this is WAY more than "almost non existent" 😂
@DaLoveDonkey69420
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
"Not something to be worried about" idk dude I've been hit with less dense things then exploding manhole covers
@petosorus
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Cool guys don't look at explosions
@BoxofMadness
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
I was waiting for a manhole to explode in the intro
@ZarlanTheGreen
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
In many countries, there is absolutely zero risk of something like this ….because we don't have gas pipes, all over the place. No gas piped into homes …or anything other than gas industry buildings, gas energy plants, and maybe some heavy industries, or stuff like that.
@morezco
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
“The odds of a manhole … exploding while you’re next to it are….”
🧠 zero, obviously
“…tiny”
🧠 HUH
@lightningbolt9155
March 7, 2026 at 7:32 pm
0:02 The manhole behind him:
“You DOUBT ME?!”
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