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CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (WHDH) – Parts of Harvard Square remain closed to both vehicle and foot traffic after multiple manhole explosions sent flames shooting into the air on Wednesday and crews continue to work to fix the issue.

Crews could still be seen in the area on Thursday morning and several area businesses remained closed.

The Cambridge Fire Department said crews were originally called to the area of 27 Brattle Street before 8:45 a.m. for reports of a structure fire, only to soon discover heavy smoke billowing from the ground.

By 9 a.m., firefighters were checking for exposure to surrounding buildings, with both Cambridge police officers and Transit Police Department personnel also responding. A short time later on X, the Cambridge Police Department said Harvard Square was shut down to pedestrians and vehicles as crews continued to monitor the situation.

Cambridge Fire Chief Thomas Cahill said that after the fire was put out, crews remained on scene throughout the afternoon to ventilate carbon monoxide. As of 10 p.m., crews were still working outside businesses, such as the Coop, which are still danger of carbon monoxide leaks.

“There’s not a timeline for businesses reopening at this time,” Cahill said. “We can’t fully control the CO levels in a lot of these businesses right now. We do have a third manhole that’s active. Eversource is working diligently to secure the power to that but until that power is secure and we know it’s secure it’s going to generate carbon monoxide.”

When firefighters arrived they spent the first 45 minutes evacuating businesses due to dangerously high carbon monoxide levels

A manhole explosion in Cambridge’s Harvard Square on Wednesday morning caused major traffic disruptions, according to police.

Cambridge police said the manhole explosion was reported around 8:30 a.m. in the vicinity of 27 Brattle Street. Firefighters were working to extinguish a fire following the explosion, and Eversource is also at the scene.

Fire officials said Wednesday afternoon that there were two separate manhole explosions, and a third one that was actively smoking. When firefighters arrived they spent the first 45 minutes evacuating businesses due to dangerously high carbon monoxide levels.

“We had very high CO readings, well over 100, at a number of the businesses in this area,” Acting Fire Chief Thomas F. Cahill Jr. told reporters, adding that anything above 0 is of concern, and they begin evacuations at 35 parts per million (ppm).

Two manhole explosions shut down Harvard Square Wednesday.

It happened shortly after 8:30 a.m. on Brattle Street. It’s not clear yet what caused the explosions. Eversource raced to disable power to a third manhole near the other two that exploded. 

Students and residents of Harvard Square got a taste of Filipino food during the Asian Street Food Festival.

Locals lined up for a bite of the flavorful Filipino barbecue, while others tried Filipino desserts made of the Philippine purple yam or ube.

Aside from the food, Filipino culture and traditions were also on display on stage.

“It’s really amazing that we’re able to celebrate it right here in Harvard Square where it’s composed of a lot of diverse people,” said Kiwi Polido, organizer of the event.

Senen Mangalile, the Philippine consul general in New York, said the event showcases the richness of the Filipino heritage.

“By listening to our music and watching our performances, we hope that you will gain a better understanding of Philippines culture,” he said. “Such an understanding can hopefully lead to greater harmony among all of us who live in the same society.”

Members of the Harvard Square Philippine-American Alliance are getting ready for their second festival at the same venue come October 8 to mark the Filipino-American History Month.

“I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of people from the Philippines again,” Polido added, “from different parts of the country, not just in Boston. We have people from New York and they have people from California, just everyone coming here together, enjoying Filipino culture.”

Boston’s biggest music festival is back and the sun is expected to shine down on it all weekend.

For three days Memorial Day weekend, major music acts and local artists alike will descend on the Harvard Athletic Complex for Boston Calling, along with thousands of fans.

From the Foo Fighters to Paramore, this year has quite the lineup. And between acts, there will be a smorgasbord of food options.

Here’s what to know:

What’s the latest music lineup?

Taylor Swift may have left the Boston area, but other big stars are here — though one big act had to pull out at the last minute.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs dropped out of the lineup for Friday, citing an illness, but local legends the Dropkick Murphys stepped up to replace them — presumably, they don’t need to go too far to ship up to Boston Calling.

Here’s the full lineup, with headliners in bold (which you can also see in interactive form on the Boston Calling website and apps):

FRIDAY
1:45 p.m.: Alisa Amador / Happy Valley Red Stage
2:15 p.m.: Zolita / Blue Stage
2:20 p.m.: Razor Braids / Green Stage
2:50 p.m.: Brandie Blaze / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
3 p.m.: Celisse / Happy Valley Red Stage
3:20 p.m.: GA-20 / Blue Stage
3:55 p.m.: The Beaches / Green Stage
4:05 p.m.: Summer Cult / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
4:35 p.m.: TALK / Blue Stage
4:45 p.m.: Chelsea Cutler / Happy Valley Red Stage
5:20 p.m.: Blue Light Bandits / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
5:50 p.m.: Teddy Swims / Blue Stage
5:55 p.m.: Dropkick Murphys / Green Stage
6:55 p.m.: Little Fuss / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
7:05 p.m.: The National / Happy Valley Red Stage
7:40 p.m.: Niall Horan / Blue Stage
8:40 p.m.: Foo Fighters / Green Stage

SATURDAY
1:45 p.m.: Neemz / Happy Valley Red Stage
2:20 p.m.: Loveless / Green Stage
2:20 p.m.: The Q-Tip Bandits / Blue Stage
2:55 p.m.: chrysalis / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
3 p.m.: The Aces / Happy Valley Red Stage
3:25 p.m.: Welshly Arms / Blue Stage
3:55 p.m.: Joy Oladokun / Green Stage
4:05 p.m.: Coral Moons / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
4:35 p.m.: Declan McKenna / Blue Stage
4:55 p.m.: Mt. Joy / Happy Valley Red Stage
5:20 p.m.: Actor Observer / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
5:50 p.m.: Fletcher / Blue Stage
6:05 p.m.: Noah Kahan / Green Stage
6:55 p.m.: Najee Janey / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
7:15 p.m.: Alanis Morissette / Happy Valley Red Stage
7:35 p.m.: The Flaming Lips performing ‘Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots’ / Blue Stage
9 p.m.: The Lumineers / Green Stage

SUNDAY
1:45 p.m.: Juice / Happy Valley Red Stage
2:20 p.m.: Mint Green / Blue Stage
2:25 p.m.: Wunderhorse / Green Stage
3 p.m.: The Linda Lindas / Happy Valley Red Stage
3:05 p.m.: Workman Song / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
3:45 p.m.: Brutus / Blue Stage
4 p.m.: 070 Shake / Green Stage
4:30 p.m.: Sorry Mom / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
5:05 p.m.: Bleachers / Happy Valley Red Stage
5:05 p.m.: Genesis Owusu / Blue Stage
5:55 p.m.: Ali McGuirk / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
6:15 p.m.: Maren Morris / Green Stage
6:40 p.m.: The Walkmen / Blue Stage
7:25 p.m.: Queens of the Stone Age / Happy Valley Red Stage
7:40 p.m.: Couch / Tivoli Audio Orange Stage
8:30 p.m.: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard / Blue Stage
9 p.m.: Paramore / Green Stage

Monday’s Wake Up Call comes from the Asian Street Food & Music Festival.

CAMBRIDGE – A group of choir boys who go to school in Cambridge had the experience of a lifetime recently that included a ride on the Popemobile with Pope Francis. 

The Boy Choristers of Saint Paul’s Choir School, Harvard Square, were on a 12-day choir tour of Italy. They were personally invited to sing for Francis during his general audience at the Vatican on April 26.

“Six of the boys rode through the crowds of St. Peter’s Square with Pope Francis on the famous “Popemobile,” the school said.

Zinneken’s specializes in Belgian waffles. Owner Nhon Ma opened the cozy spot in 2011 in Harvard Square, Cambridge, after moving to the United States from Brussels. He grew up in the food business in Belgium and says he satisfied his entrepreneurial spirit by bringing a taste of his home country to Cambridge.