Several underground transformers exploded and rocked downtown Indianapolis Wednesday, prompting authorities to evacuate residents and workers from nearby buildings.

The series of explosions, which happened outside a shopping mall, destroyed windows and forced police to evacuate the nearby residents, workers, and onlookers to a safe distance.

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Indianapolis Fire Department Captain Rita Reith said no one was injured.

Witnessed said they heard a series of loud explosions and after a while, the police cleared the entire block.

Reports said the explosions happened at around 1:30 pm.

A construction worker, Bruce Plott, who was near  the site of the explosions said he heard what sounded like aluminum trash cans being banged together.

Plott stated that he walked downstairs following the explosions and saw the billowing smoke rising from the sidewalk.

According to reports, the explosions went on for close to 10 minutes, causing frightened citizens to flee the scene and head away from the blasts and towards safety.

Mayor Greg Ballard and safety director Troy Riggs rushed to the scene and were briefed by the firefighters and Indianapolis Power and Light  (IPL) about the explosion.

In a statement, IPL revealed that a network protector failed in an underground vault which was holding four transformers.

The four transformers supply power to the mall. Power was cut off in the mall and two restaurants near the explosion.

IPL has stated that it plans on further investigating the incident. IPL came under scrutiny in 2010 and 2011 for another series of underground explosions.

The workers who were evacuated included 30 employees in county courts. A Supreme Court judge has allowed the workers to go home after they were evacuated from the building.

Authorities were able to confirm that no one was hurt during the blasts although several surrounding businesses will continue to be affected in the aftermath.

Tagsblasts transformers Indianapolis, Indianapolis blast, Indianapolis explosions