Thursday, March 26, 2015

MULTIPLE INJURIES REPORTED AFTER NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION, BUILDING COLLAPSE AT EAST VILLAGE IN NEW YORK













MARCH 26, 2015

EAST VILLAGE, NYC

As many as 30 people were hurt when an explosion caused a partial building collapse and ignited a massive fire in the East Village on Thursday afternoon, law-enforcement sources told The Post.

Flames were engulfing two buildings at the scene and firefighters were spraying water on the blaze, as thick smoke billowed over the neighborhood.

The destruction near the corner of Second Avenue and East Seventh Street was reported shortly before 3:30 p.m.

Cops in the Ninth Precinct stationhouse, about a quarter-mile away, heard a loud bang and raced over, sources said.

A diner who was eating at the Sushi Park restaurant at 121 Second Avenue told cops he heard an explosion inside the kitchen there, a source said.

Day laborers also told cops they had been working on a gas line inside the kitchen, and there were 911 reports of possible gas leak just before the blast, a source said.

In addition to 121 Second Ave., the building next door at 123, which houses the Pommes Frites restaurant, was also on fire.

The FDNY initially declared a two-alarm emergency, but quickly upgraded it to seven alarms shortly before 4 p.m.
Source:nypost.com



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NEW YORK (CBSNEWYORK)

Emergency responders are on the scene of an apparent explosion and collapse at a building in Manhattan’s East Village.

The explosion and collapse was reported at around 3:20 p.m. at 7th Street and Second Avenue Thursday afternoon.

Multiple injuries have been reported, the Fire Department said.

The collapse occurred at 125 Second Avenue, which is a residential and commercial building.

Fire could be seen tearing through at least two buildings at the location.
The fire quickly escalated to four alarms, according to the FDNY.

According to Department of Building records, there was a stop-work order on the building.

Whole building is in flames now. pic.twitter.com/U3zGUPqi86
— Scott Westerfeld (@ScottWesterfeld) March 26, 2015
Possible gas leak on 2nd Avenue & 7th street causes explosion #EastVillage pic.twitter.com/gmBCpDmScB
— East Village Eats (@EastVillageEats) March 26, 2015
@brooke explosion at 7th and 2nd – pic.twitter.com/2vn0DmO4NL
— Brian Whalley (@bwhalley) March 26, 2015
There was just an explosion on 2nd avenue and 7th street east village pic.twitter.com/jvSbfdCSSe
— Jonathan (@jmeyers44) March 26, 2015
Tons of smoke after the explosion in the east village pic.twitter.com/fthlVp32Pj
— Jonathan (@jmeyers44) March 26, 2015

There’s no immediate word on what caused the explosion, although natural gas odor was present in the area prior to the event.

A building explosion in Harlem in March 2013 was caused by a faulty gas line.