Joan Rivers: My Manhole Just Exploded!!!

Joan Rivers narrowly escaped what could have been a fatal mishap this morning -- and one that would have lived in infamy -- her manhole exploded in flames.

Joan and her daughter Melissa left the 78-year-old's NYC apartment this AM to do a segment for "Good Morning America" -- to promote their reality show, "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?"

As their car pulled away from the curb, a manhole cover -- just feet away -- blew sky high, with flames shooting in the air.