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| New York City building collapses after explosion in Harlem | New York City building collapses after explosion in Harlem |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An explosion caused the swift and entire collapse of two buildings in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York on Wednesday, causing at least two deaths and 17 injuries. | |
| Smoke poured from the rubble at the site of the incident on Park Avenue as first responders investigated the chaotic scene. The site is next to train tracks and blocks away from the north border of Central Park. | |
| The New York fire department (FDNY) said it had sent 198 firefighters from 44 units to the scene. The Associated Press said one person with “serious trauma” was being treated at the nearby Harlem hospital. More injured people were expected, said Lamarr Nelson, a hospital spokesman. | |
| At least 17 people with minor injuries were treated at the scene, and the New York Police Department confirmed two women had died. No further details were available. | |
| Residents heard a large explosion around 9am. Two five-storey building were reduced to rubble. The power company, Con Edison, said it had been responding to reports of a smell of gas when the explosion happened. | |
| “We’re working with the FDNY and checking gas lines,” said Con Edison spokesman Bob McGhee. “We’re working to isolate any leaks and make the area safe.” | |
| The East Harlem neighborhood stood at a standstill as police set up barricades to keep residents away from the building that was still spewing thick, acrid smoke into the air. Some people wore surgical masks while others held their hands or scarves over their faces. | |
| Sidewalks for blocks around were littered with broken glass from shattered storefront and apartment windows. Witnesses say the blast neat Park Avenue and 116th Street was so powerful it knocked groceries off the shelves of nearby stores. | |
| “It felt like an earthquake had rattled my whole building,” said Waldemar Infante, 24, a porter from a nearby residential building who was working in the basement when the explosion occurred. “There were glass shards everywhere on the ground and all the stores had their windows blown out.” | |
| The two destroyed buildings, 1644 and 1646 Park Ave., were both five-storey brick apartment buildings. One held a piano store on the first floor, the other a storefront church. | |
| Metro-North train service was suspended in both directions. The Metropolitan Transit Authority said: “All train service into and out of Grand Central terminal is temporarily suspended until further notice due to a building explosion adjacent to our tracks.” | Metro-North train service was suspended in both directions. The Metropolitan Transit Authority said: “All train service into and out of Grand Central terminal is temporarily suspended until further notice due to a building explosion adjacent to our tracks.” |
| The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, was due to hold a press conference at the scene at 12 noon ET. | The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, was due to hold a press conference at the scene at 12 noon ET. |
| The Associated Press contributed to this report |