Two New York City buildings collapsed on Wednesday in an explosion believed to be caused by a gas leak, killing two people, injuring at least 36, and setting off a search for more victims feared trapped in the rubble, officials reported, according to the Associated Press.
The blast scattered debris across nearby rooftops and brought down the neighboring five-story buildings with a total of 15 apartments at about 9:30 a.m. in a residential Upper Manhattan block at East 116th Street and Park Avenue, the AP reported.
Officials have declined to give a number of people still missing, according to the AP.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the "gas explosion and subsequent fire," according to the AP. Metro-North Railroad, which had shut down train traffic moving through Manhattan while it cleared debris from the tracks announced late afternoon it had restored all commuter train traffic passing through the area.
Mayor Bill de Blasio rushed to the scene in East Harlem where a cascade of twisted and burnt metal blocked the sidewalk and covered parked cars, the AP reported. Preliminary information showed the explosion was caused by a gas leak.
Officials at the press conference said the blast occurred 15 minutes after a resident in an adjacent building called Con Edison to complain of a gas odor, the AP reported.
Hundreds of firefighters were scouring the mounds of debris for survivors and trapped bodies, and de Blasio said there were "a number" of people missing, according to the AP.
"This is a tragedy because there was no time to warn people ahead of time," de Blasio said, the AP reported. "We are expending every effort to locate each and every loved one."
Two women were killed and 22 people injured, one of them critically, with most suffering cuts, broken bones and smoke inhalation, authorities said, the AP reported. One of the deceased had not yet been identified, while the second woman's name was being withheld pending notification of family.
"It's a very active scene. It's a very chaotic scene," said Fire Department spokesman Michael Parrella as residents stood around the area wearing protective masks, according to the AP.
During the morning commute, trains were held at nearby stations because of debris on the tracks and passengers were ordered off the Metro-North Railroad cars at the Fordham stop in the Bronx, passengers said, the AP reported.
