Thursday, October 1, 2026
A group of five people descended into the Wantagh sewer system by way of a manhole in the early hours of Aug. 27, prompting a number of 911 calls and an investigation that has left residents wondering what was going on.
The group was seen removing a manhole cover on the sidewalk of Wantagh Avenue, near Jerusalem Avenue, shortly after 1 a.m., according to Nassau County police. Two witnesses reported seeing the men enter the sewer before they replaced the cover and disappeared underground.
Police and the Wantagh Fire Department responded to the area and searched the sewer system. No one was found underground and authorities reported no damage, according to police. The reason the group entered the sewer remains unclear.
The incident has generated plenty of theories among residents, ranging from teenagers pulling a prank to people exploring the underground system.
“I thought it could be teens doing a dare or something,” Wantagh resident Suzanne Pajonas said.
Others questioned why the group would choose a busy intersection, where businesses and surrounding streets have surveillance cameras.
“There were multiple witnesses who called 911,” resident Justin Haas said. “Camera footage was taken.”
Haas said the circumstances raised questions about whether that particular section of the sewer system could have some significance, though there was no evidence of what the group was doing underground, or perhaps looking for.
The Fire Department, meanwhile, is emphasizing that whatever the reason, entering a sewer system can be extremely dangerous. Kevin Regan, the department's public information officer, said the general rule is that anyone who does not have specialized training should stay out of sewer and storm-drain systems.
“Toxic gases often build up in these confined spaces,” Regan explained, warning as well of biological hazards in standing water and sludge. Those dangers may not be apparent to someone who enters a manhole, he said, but people can quickly be overcome by those gases and face additional risks from slippery or uneven surfaces, standing liquids, and rats and other vermin.
There have been similar, thus far unexplained, incidents in New York City this year. Groups have been recorded entering or emerging from manholes in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, prompting investigations and speculation about urban exploration or searches for valuables.
Nassau County police have not said, however, that the Wantagh incident is connected to those cases. For local residents, the unanswered question remains: Why go down there?
Cristina Rapuano, another resident, said the behavior was concerning, and asked whether additional security measures could prevent people from accessing the sewer system. “Something is up,” Rapuano said, “and authorities need to figure out what.”
At press time, authorities had not publicly identified the people who entered the Wantagh sewer, or disclosed a motive. What is clear, fire officials said, is that the risks below ground can turn an illegal exploration into an emergency.
The message from fire officials to anyone who encounters someone in trouble underground is not to venture below ground to help. The safest response is to call 911 and let trained responders handle the situation.
