Latest update: By late Wednesday evening, around 9:20 p.m. PDT, the Texas Tech Library had closed, and power was shut off to the entire campus to facilitate repairs. The Health Sciences Center was also evacuated as a precaution. Posts on X suggest that by approximately 7:49 p.m. local time in Lubbock, Lubbock Fire Rescue had contained the underground blaze, though the cause remained under investigation.
Suspicions point to a gas leak in the Engineering Building as a potential trigger, but no official confirmation has been provided. Power was reportedly restored to the campus, and no injuries or casualties have been reported.
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Lubbock, Texas – March 12, 2025, 7:10 PM PDT - Chaos erupted at Texas Tech University in Lubbock on Wednesday evening as an explosion at a power substation sparked multiple fires, plunged large portions of the campus into darkness, and prompted widespread evacuations. University officials confirmed the incident in an emergency notification, urging the public to steer clear of the affected areas as emergency crews scrambled to contain the unfolding crisis.
The explosion, reported around 7:30 PM, sent shockwaves through the campus, with smoke plumes rising into the night sky and eerie green and yellow flames erupting from manholes near the Texas Tech Recreational Center. The blast knocked out power across multiple areas of the university, including the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, leaving students, faculty, and staff grappling with the sudden disruption. The Engineering Key, a central hub of academic activity, was among the first areas evacuated after reports of a strong gas odor compounded the growing sense of alarm.
Texas Tech University issued an urgent TechAlert shortly after the incident, stating, “An explosion at a substation has caused power outages at Texas Tech University and Health Sciences Center. The Engineering Key has been evacuated. We ask that the public avoid the campuses.” As the situation escalated, Lubbock Fire Rescue descended on the scene, battling what they described as “multiple fires” across the sprawling campus. Videos circulating online captured the surreal sight of chemical-colored flames bursting from underground, intensifying concerns about the nature of the incident.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of confusion and urgency. “I was near the Rec Center when I saw this huge plume of smoke, and then these weird green flames just shot up out of nowhere,” said one student, who requested anonymity. “People were running, and you could smell something strange in the air—like gas or chemicals. It was terrifying.”
While the exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation, early reports suggest a failure at the substation may have triggered a cascade of electrical and possibly chemical malfunctions. Lubbock Power & Light’s outage map indicated that approximately 40 customers were affected, though the broader impact on campus operations was far more significant. University police and fire officials have yet to release details on injuries or the full extent of the damage, but the priority remains clear: ensuring the safety of the campus community.
As firefighters worked to suppress the blazes, authorities expanded evacuation orders to include the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center out of an abundance of caution. The public has been repeatedly asked to avoid the area, with emergency vehicles clogging nearby streets and sirens piercing the evening calm. “We’re dealing with a dynamic situation,” a Lubbock Fire Rescue spokesperson said in a brief statement. “Our crews are mitigating the emergency, but we need everyone to stay away while we get this under control.”
The incident marks a stark disruption for Texas Tech, a public research university founded in 1923 and home to over 40,000 students. Known for its vibrant campus life and cutting-edge academic programs, the institution now faces the challenge of restoring order and assessing the fallout from this unexpected disaster. Power is expected to remain shut off across the campus as repair efforts begin, though no timeline for restoration has been provided. 17GEN4.com
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