Electrical problem blamed in blast that blew off manhole covers, damaged …

An underground electrical cable failure appears to be what caused at least three manhole covers near the Max M. Fisher Music Center to blow off Sunday morning, a DTE Energy official said.

The electrical problem likely ignited methane gas in the manholes about 8:30 a.m., DTE spokesman Len Singer said.

Damage also was reported in the basement of Orchestra Hall near the damaged manholes, he said.

No injuries were reported.

“It doesn’t happen very often,” he said. “We’ve had some situations where it’s occurred in the past.”

Fire and police blocked of a portion of Woodward Avenue near the building Sunday.

DTE crews were at the center’s Orchestra Hall — home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra — on Sunday, working to isolate the source of the problem, Singer said.

“We don’t know the extent of the damage to the building,” DSO spokeswoman Gabrielle Poshadlo said Sunday. Staff was evacuated and had not been allowed back into the building late Sunday afternoon, she said.

A performance — part of “Mondays at the Max with Wayne State” series — scheduled for tonight at the center will be postponed, Poshadlo said. A new date had not been announced.

Sunday’s Sphinx 15 finals competition for young black and Latino string players was moved to Ann Arbor after the incident.

Contact Elisha Anderson: 313-222-5144 or eanderson99@freepress.com