Man spotted emerging from manhole in Queens amid rash of underground mysteries across NYC

Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News on Sep 14, 2026

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NEW YORK — A man wearing a black-and-red bandana was seen climbing out of a sewer in Queens, with him and four other men taking off after putting the manhole back in place — the latest mysterious underground incident, police said Monday.

Officers were sent to Juniper Boulevard South and 74th Street in Middle Village after someone called 911 at 4:04 a.m. Sunday to report the incident.

Police said the witness saw the one man climb out of the manhole then take off with four other men.

It wasn’t clear Monday if police had determined if the other men had also been underground.

The city Department of Environmental Protection is investigating the incident along with the NYPD.

“DEP is aware of individuals illegally entering the sewer system,” a spokesperson for the agency said. “If observed, residents should immediately call 911 and provide a description so law enforcement can quickly respond.”

On May 22, a group of about eight men were recorded emerging from a manhole on a Williamsburg street a few hours after going underground.

The same day, seven other men were seen climbing out of a manhole in Gravesend.

More recently, video posted on social media showed three men on Aug. 18 popping out of a manhole at the southeast corner of West 31st Street and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. The men were wearing overalls and headlamps.

No arrests have been made in any of the incidents.

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