Videos posted on U.S. social media last week captured at least 7 men congregating around a manhole in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, late on 28/5. The individuals, some wearing headlamps, waders, and gloves, opened the manhole cover and descended one by one. The group was later seen re-emerging from the same location around 2 a.m. on 29/5 before quickly leaving the scene.

Another video, also from Brooklyn, showed a man in a red shirt climbing out of a manhole in the middle of the street. Six others followed, with at least three carrying shovels.

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) initiated an investigation following these reports. An NYPD spokesperson stated on 1/6, "We have not recorded any injuries. Police have also not apprehended any suspects."

A New York law enforcement official indicated that police are pursuing the most plausible theory: the group entered the sewer system to search for valuables swept into the drainage network. "To ensure there is no threat to the public, NYPD emergency unit officers inspected the area to check if these individuals left anything suspicious. No abnormalities were detected," the official added.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP), which manages the city's sewer system, also dispatched personnel to inspect the area and found no signs of damage to the system's equipment.

An NYC DEP spokesperson emphasized the dangers, stating, "Entering the sewer system is illegal and exceptionally hazardous. Inside, there are numerous risks such as toxic, potentially lethal gases, unstable ground, the risk of sudden flooding, and confined spaces. Therefore, residents should never enter any pipes, drains, manholes, or outfalls."

Nhu Tam (Source: NBC News, New York Post)