New Yorkers and officials are trying to solve the mystery after multiple videos captured a mysterious group entering and exiting the underground sewer system late at night in Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods. Police suspect they might be treasure hunters or urban explorers interested in abandoned underground spaces.
A strange incident has sparked widespread discussion in New York City after several surveillance cameras recorded a mysterious group secretly opening sewer manhole covers to enter and exit the city’s large underground sewer system during the middle of the night.
The latest incident occurred in the early morning of Friday, 29 May, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Cameras captured about seven people emerging from a sewer manhole at a busy intersection amidst passing vehicles. Some wore headlamps and carried tools resembling shovels. Reports say one nearly got hit by a car while struggling to climb out from underground.
Additionally, on 5 May in Queens, a car repair shop’s surveillance footage showed three people in waterproof gear and full protective equipment prying open a manhole cover and climbing down. The last person carefully closed the cover as confused drivers slowed down to watch.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) and local media sources suggest these individuals may be "treasure hunters" or urban explorers seeking valuables possibly dropped into the sewer system. However, their actions are illegal and they may face charges of theft or trespassing if caught.
Preliminary inspections by the Environmental Protection Agency found no damage to the sewer infrastructure at the incident sites, but authorities remain vigilant to ensure public safety.
An EPA spokesperson warned through the media that "entering the sewer system is illegal and extremely dangerous," citing hidden hazards such as toxic gases that can cause unconsciousness or death quickly. Underground surfaces may be eroded or unstable, and sudden rain or heavy water flow could trap anyone inside with no escape. The narrow, complex tunnels also make rescue efforts difficult.
This incident follows a recent tragic case where a woman died after falling into a poorly covered sewer manhole in Midtown Manhattan, heightening public concern over the safety of manhole covers citywide.
Currently, police have not apprehended the suspects, who fled in an unknown vehicle after completing their underground activity. Investigators are reviewing additional surveillance footage to identify this mysterious group.