Officers descended on downtown Toronto Monday afternoon, blocking off King and Bay streets after a hydro vault exploded during the height of the afternoon commute.

King Street remained closed between Yonge and Bay streets Monday night while Front Street West and Adelaide Street re-opened.

Toronto Transit Commission subway trains continued bypassing King station between Union and Queen stations. While the explosion did not affect the subway system's operations, the station was closed to limit pedestrian traffic in the area, TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said.

The 504 and 514 streetcars — which travel along King — continued to divert along Queen Street West between Spadina Avenue and Church Street.

Businesses in the underground PATH system were also closed due to heavy smoke, Toronto Fire said.

Purpose of station closure is to limit pedestrian traffic in the area. Use Queen Stn for King and Cherry streetcar service —@bradTTC