Footage shared Monday shows luminous green sludge oozing from the roadways and sidewalks of Manhattan, New York.
The video posted by AccuWeather clearly shows still images and video of a neon-green substance washing out of the city’s roads, appearing to come from the sewers. It absolutely looks like something out of an apocalypse movie, but hasn’t most of the last few years felt like a cataclysm anyway? Green goo on the sidewalks actually feels pretty on-brand for 2023.
Apparently, the green is just a dye that plumbers use to detect leaks in sewage and other liquid systems, according to one fact-checked Twitter post. Locals were apparently unphazed by the appearance of the green, while some tourists were horrified.
“I have no idea what it could possibly be. But it’s definitely not good, whatever it is,” tourist Richard Johnston told Insider.
Green Sludge Solved: Manhattan’s fluorescent leak turns out to be harmless dyed water aiding NYC’s system checks. pic.twitter.com/EAWVAlml8Y
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) November 6, 2023
“Knowing New York, stuff happens. Weird stuff happens. People just walk by and don’t pay attention to it,” one teenager named Diego told the outlet. Is this really how we’ve decided to live as a species, just so nonplussed about major changes in our environment that we carry on as if everything is fine? (RELATED: New York City Just Decided To Destroy Its Tourism Industry)
Seeing locals respond so nonchalantly is concerning. It’s giving me the same vibe as that old saying about how frogs don’t notice when the water around them is starting to boil and kill them. I’m not calling the people of New York “frogs,” but there’s definitely a parallel to be drawn here.
Also, can we please talk about how much this liquid leaked onto the streets in wild abandon? What the heck is going on with our infrastructure?!