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Two dead as New York City building collapses after blast Two dead as New York City buildings collapse after gas blast
(35 minutes later)
Two women have died after an explosion in an apartment building that then collapsed in East Harlem, New York City, police say. Two women have died after a gas leak sparked an explosion which levelled two buildings in East Harlem, New York City, authorities say.
Seventeen others were injured in the incident, which sent smoke billowing into the city sky. Eighteen others have been injured in the incident, which sent smoke billowing into the city sky.
Residents heard a blast in the five-storey building at 116th Street and Park Avenue before it caved in. More than 250 firefighters are tackling the blaze at the scene near 116th Street and Park Avenue.
All train services in and out of Grand Central terminal have been halted following the incident near its tracks.All train services in and out of Grand Central terminal have been halted following the incident near its tracks.
'Gas smell' Missing people
The New York fire department has elevated the incident to the highest threat level possible. 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 just 15 minutes before the blast on Wednesday morning.
It announced it has dispatched 198 members from more than three dozen nearby fire stations to battle the blaze. Mr de Blasio said the "major explosion" had destroyed two buildings and heavily damaged other structures.
A utility company says a resident in a nearby building reported smelling gas shortly before the explosion on Wednesday morning. A number of individuals were still missing in the area, he added.
"Every effort is being expended to locate" them, he added.
New York fire department has elevated the incident to the highest threat level possible.
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.
"A window blew out of the other shop down the street," he added."A window blew out of the other shop down the street," he added.
"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."
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