Manhole Blast Rocks Astoria

An explosion that sent three manhole covers sailing into the air rocked a Queens neighborhood yesterday, making panicked residents think a bomb had gone off.

The manholes blew their lids around 4 p.m. near 21-70 Crescent St. in Astoria, forcing firefighters to evacuate several nearby buildings, fire officials said.

"I had no idea what it was," said Michael Colantonio, 43, who lives on the block. "It felt like an earthquake or like a bomb had gone off."

Fire officials said no one was hurt in the blast.

The explosion comes two weeks after East Village resident Jodie Lane was electrocuted walking her two dogs after stepping on an electrical-connection box.