New York police investigate videos of men emerging from city's sewer system
Source: BBC News
New York police are investigating a series of incidents in which groups of men were caught on surveillance cameras entering and exiting the city's underground sewer system. The videos, recorded in neighbourhoods across Brooklyn and Queens, emerged over recent weeks and have raised significant concerns among city authorities. It remains unclear whether the same group is responsible for all of the incidents, and no arrests have been made so far as the investigation continues.
In one particularly striking piece of footage, several men are seen removing a manhole cover before descending into the sewer system. They remained underground for several hours before re-emerging at the same location. Police sources told CBS News that the individuals are believed to be 'treasure hunters' and urban explorers motivated by the prospect of discovering valuables hidden beneath the city streets. The men reportedly fled the scene in an unidentified vehicle after each incident.
City officials have issued a strong warning to the public about the severe dangers associated with entering the sewer system. A spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Protection stated that sewers contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and dangerously confined spaces. The spokesperson urged members of the public never to enter any pipe, drain, catch basin, manhole, or outfall under any circumstances.
The New York Police Department confirmed to the BBC that it had received reports of unidentified individuals removing manhole covers and entering the sewer system last week. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in connection with any of the incidents. However, authorities warned that if the individuals are apprehended, they could face serious criminal charges, including burglary, due to their unauthorised entry into city infrastructure.
The incidents have drawn attention to a broader subculture of urban exploration, in which individuals deliberately enter restricted or abandoned urban spaces for adventure or the pursuit of hidden treasures. While some urban explorers are motivated purely by curiosity, authorities stress that such activities carry extreme legal and physical risks. The New York cases serve as a reminder that even the most seemingly adventurous pursuits can result in life-threatening consequences and significant criminal liability.
Japanese translation
ニューヨーク市警は、ブルックリンとクイーンズの複数の地区で、男たちのグループが地下下水道に出入りする様子を捉えた監視カメラ映像について捜査を進めている。映像は過去数週間にわたって相次いで浮上し、市当局に深刻な懸念をもたらしている。一連の事件が同一グループによるものかどうかは現時点では不明であり、逮捕者はまだ出ていない。
ある映像では、数人の男がマンホールの蓋を取り外して下水道に降りていく様子が記録されており、男たちは数時間後に同じ場所から地上へ戻ってきた。警察筋はCBSニュースに対し、彼らは地下に眠る財宝を探す「トレジャーハンター」や都市探検家とみられると語った。男たちはいずれも、事件後に身元不明の車で現場から逃走したとされている。
市当局は下水道への侵入に伴う深刻な危険性について、市民に強い警告を発した。環境保護局の広報担当者は、下水道には有毒ガスや潜在的に致死性のあるガス、不安定な地盤、洪水のリスク、極めて狭い空間など数多くの危険が存在すると述べた。また、いかなる状況においても市民がマンホールや排水管などへ立ち入るべきではないと強調した。
ニューヨーク市警はBBCに対し、先週、身元不明の人物らがマンホールの蓋を外して下水道に侵入したとの報告を受けたことを認めた。幸いにも、いずれの事件でも負傷者は報告されていない。しかし当局は、もし関与者が逮捕された場合、市のインフラへの不法侵入を理由に窃盗罪を含む重大な刑事責任を問われる可能性があると警告している。
今回の一連の事件は、廃墟や立入禁止区域などへあえて踏み込む「都市探検」と呼ばれる文化に改めて注目を集めることになった。好奇心や財宝探しを動機とする者もいるが、当局はこうした行為が法的・身体的に極めて高いリスクを伴うと強調している。ニューヨークの事件は、一見冒険的に見える行為でも、命に関わる結果や重大な刑事責任につながり得ることを改めて示している。
Key vocabulary
- surveillance cameranoun
A camera used to monitor and record activity in a specific area, typically for security purposes.
和訳: 監視カメラ
The suspect was identified after footage from a surveillance camera near the bank was reviewed by detectives.
- manhole covernoun
A removable metal lid that covers an opening in the ground providing access to underground utilities such as sewers.
和訳: マンホールの蓋
Workers had to remove the manhole cover in order to inspect the damaged pipes below the street.
- noxiousadjective
Harmful, toxic, or very unpleasant, especially when referring to substances such as gases or chemicals.
和訳: 有害な、有毒な
The factory was fined for releasing noxious fumes into the surrounding neighbourhood.
- confined spacenoun
An enclosed or partially enclosed area that is not designed for continuous occupancy and may pose serious safety risks due to limited ventilation or access.
和訳: 密閉空間、閉所
Workers must receive special training before being permitted to operate in a confined space such as a storage tank.
