Commuters at the Smithsonian Metro station were startled by loud noise and smoke Thursday afternoon.
A Metro spokesperson told News4 the incident was caused by a cover to the third rail coming loose and making contact with the rail itself.
Some witnesses said the station filled up with smoke and caused a bit of panic. Metro said the situation is under control and maintenance crews are on the scene to make repairs.
Metro spokesman Dan Stessel says it happened around 2:42 p.m. It wasn't clear why the cover came into contact with the rail.
No one was injured.
The station is open, although the incident caused some delays. Trains briefly single-tracked through the station.
Metro said at 3:50 p.m. that single-tracking had ended, but residual delays remained.
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Some type of explosion on @wmata at @smithsonian station. pic.twitter.com/66EecvLk2E — Seth Statler (@SethStatler) July 10, 2014
I was just on a Metro train, pulled into Smithsonian, 2 LOUD bangs, smoke and huge sparks; people yelled/went running;what happened @wmata?? — Steve Spaulding (@SpauldingCC) July 10, 2014
Just came running out of @wmata station at smithsonian - sparks/loud bang/ smoke - we all went running out — Steve Spaulding (@SpauldingCC) July 10, 2014