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| Three dead as New York City buildings collapse after gas blast | Three dead as New York City buildings collapse after gas blast |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three people have died and nine are missing after a gas leak sparked an explosion which levelled two buildings in New York City, authorities say. | Three people have died and nine are missing after a gas leak sparked an explosion which levelled two buildings in New York City, authorities say. |
| Scores of others have been injured in the incident, which sent smoke billowing into the city sky. | Scores of others have been injured in the incident, which sent smoke billowing into the city sky. |
| Rescue crews began searching the debris on Wednesday evening for victims after the fire was finally put out. | Rescue crews began searching the debris on Wednesday evening for victims after the fire was finally put out. |
| Train services to and from Grand Central Terminal have been restored after a complete halt earlier. | Train services to and from Grand Central Terminal have been restored after a complete halt earlier. |
| Missing people | Missing people |
| New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a news conference from the scene that the gas leak had been reported to the utility company 15 minutes before the blast on Wednesday morning. | New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a news conference from the scene that the gas leak had been reported to the utility company 15 minutes before the blast on Wednesday morning. |
| Mr de Blasio said the "major explosion" had destroyed two buildings and heavily damaged other structures. | Mr de Blasio said the "major explosion" had destroyed two buildings and heavily damaged other structures. |
| The mayor's office confirmed to the Associated Press news agency that nine people were still missing by early Wednesday evening. | The mayor's office confirmed to the Associated Press news agency that nine people were still missing by early Wednesday evening. |
| As night fell, rescue crews were finally able to search for victims in the debris after the fire raged for most of the day. | As night fell, rescue crews were finally able to search for victims in the debris after the fire raged for most of the day. |
| Heavy equipment, including a bulldozer, helped clear the remnants of two multi-storey buildings. Thermal imaging cameras were brought in to identify bodies or pockets of fire inside the mountain of debris. | Heavy equipment, including a bulldozer, helped clear the remnants of two multi-storey buildings. Thermal imaging cameras were brought in to identify bodies or pockets of fire inside the mountain of debris. |
| The New York fire department said 22 people had been hurt, but a tally of local hospitals by ABC News found that 64 had been admitted with injuries as a result of the incident. | The New York fire department said 22 people had been hurt, but a tally of local hospitals by ABC News found that 64 had been admitted with injuries as a result of the incident. |
| That figure included seven children, one of whom was in a critical condition. | That figure included seven children, one of whom was in a critical condition. |
| The utility company, Con Edison, says a resident in a nearby building reported smelling gas shortly before the explosion. | The utility company, Con Edison, says a resident in a nearby building reported smelling gas shortly before the explosion. |
| Streets and pavements around the site were littered with broken glass from shattered windows. | Streets and pavements around the site were littered with broken glass from shattered windows. |
| Witnesses reported the powerful blast knocked items off shelves in nearby stores. | Witnesses reported the powerful blast knocked items off shelves in nearby stores. |
| Authorities in the area were said to be handing out medical masks to residents due to the thick white smoke at the scene. | Authorities in the area were said to be handing out medical masks to residents due to the thick white smoke at the scene. |
| A witness told the BBC "there was just a lot of panic" following the explosion. | A witness told the BBC "there was just a lot of panic" following the explosion. |
| Dan Scarvino had just emerged on to a nearby train platform when "suddenly a plume of smoke came out of nowhere". | Dan Scarvino had just emerged on to a nearby train platform when "suddenly a plume of smoke came out of nowhere". |
| "I've never seen anything like it," he added. | "I've never seen anything like it," he added. |
| A witness told the New York Daily News she had smelled gas "for weeks" before the explosion. | A witness told the New York Daily News she had smelled gas "for weeks" before the explosion. |
| "We saw people flying out of the window... those are my neighbours," Ashley Rivera said. | "We saw people flying out of the window... those are my neighbours," Ashley Rivera said. |
| Another witness told the newspaper he heard two loud explosions that shook the barber shop where he works. | Another witness told the newspaper he heard two loud explosions that shook the barber shop where he works. |
| "It was loud, like boom, boom!" Mitch Abreu said. "It rocked the whole block." | "It was loud, like boom, boom!" Mitch Abreu said. "It rocked the whole block." |
| "It looked like the [Twin] Towers all over again. People covered in dust and covering their mouths." | "It looked like the [Twin] Towers all over again. People covered in dust and covering their mouths." |