Five unidentified individuals, dubbed "mole people," entered a Long Island storm drain system early Thursday, marking the second such incident in the New York metropolitan area within a week. The group was observed descending into a manhole in Wantagh, Nassau County, around 1 a.m.
Surveillance cameras captured the individuals working together to open the manhole cover before disappearing into the underground drainage system. The Nassau County Police were alerted by witnesses, and officers searched the sewer but found no trace of the individuals.
The incident follows a widely publicized event on August 18, where a trio wearing headlamps emerged from a manhole near Penn Station and Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. The New York City Police Department is reportedly using surveillance footage and facial recognition technology to identify that group.
Authorities have issued warnings about the dangers of entering sewer systems, citing hazards such as toxic gases, unstable conditions, flooding, and confined spaces. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) stated that the public should never enter pipes, drains, catch basins, manholes, or outfalls.
While the motives for the Long Island incident remain unclear, officials have speculated that the individuals seen in the NYC incident may have been migrants searching for lost valuables. Residents in the Wantagh neighborhood expressed concern and surprise over the event, noting its similarity to recent news reports.
This is not the first time groups have been reported entering or emerging from New York City's sewage systems, with previous reports in areas like Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The ongoing occurrences have drawn attention to the security of underground infrastructure and the potential risks associated with urban exploration.