At Least 12 Injured in 'Gas-Related' Explosion and Fire on 2nd Avenue

A preliminary investigation indicates a gas-related explosion may have led to the seven-alarm fire and building collapse in Manhattan's East Village on Thursday afternoon, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio. He said plumbing and gas work appear to have sparked the problem inside one building.

Two hundred and fifty firefighters responded to the scene at a mixed occupancy building on Second Avenue, near East Seventh Street. Firefighters said at least 12 people were injured, four critically. All of the injured are civilians. The mayor said there were no reports of missing people.

Four buildings were involved. Two of them are designated as landmarks.

At a press conference, the mayor said that the fire department was involved in "a complex and difficult operation" and that they had contained the fire to four tenement buildings. 

Private contractors had been working in 121 Second Avenue about an hour before the explosion and fire, making repairs in preparation for upgraded gas service to the building as well as doing other work, Con Edison President Craig Ivey said. He added they determined that "the new service did not pass inspection. It was not ready for gas." The inspectors gave instructions on how to fix the problem.

At 3:15 p.m., there was an explosion in 121 Second Avenue. 

Daniel Nigro, the NYC Fire Commissioner, said that the explosion "blew the front of 121 across the street and put 119 in danger of possible collapse." A fire blazed through those two buildings, as well as 123 and 125 Second Avenue.

Several witnesses reported sounds of an explosion shortly afterward. 

In East Village, firefighters draw water from a block away. pic.twitter.com/InD683Exhh

— Stephen Nessen (@s_nessen) March 26, 2015

Nicholas Stevens was working across the street and said he heard a loud noise, like something heavy dropping, sometime after 3 p.m. He said he saw flames emerging from the building, and police were telling people to back away as flames spread from the top of the building.

Michelle Conrad was walking home up Second Avenue when she heard "a giant explosion. At first I thought it was a car exploded. Then I saw people running and then I saw glass flying."

Another rumble just heard. In East Village, flames still coming from front 4th floor windows. pic.twitter.com/z2Zsz8YLYy

— Stephen Nessen (@s_nessen) March 26, 2015

One man was in Mighty Quinn's Barbecue when he heard an explosion. "It was like an earthquake kinda sound," said Miles Barber. "But then nothing after that, so we're like uh oh. What's going on? So everyone runs out of the restaurant and you can just see the building like, the windows, everything just falling over like almost going into the street." 

City officials said that PS 63 at 121 E. Third Street was being staffed by the Red Cross for those displaced by the fire. They urged those living and working in the neighborhood to keep windows closed and limit time outside in order to avoid smoke inhalation. 

De Blasio said there were no calls into the city or Con Ed about a gas leak prior to the explosion.

"Any time you smell gas call 911 immediately," de Blasio said. "There is no reason to debate, no reason to delay. A call needs to go in immediately."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said state regulators will investigate the specific cause of the explosion, fire and building collapse.

Stephen Nessen

Stephen Nessen

A photo posted by @blogbaixomanhattan on Mar 26, 2015 at 12:30pm PDT

Smoke from Second Avenue fire as seen from WNYC eighth floor lobby.

(Patrick Roberts)

Whole building is in flames now. pic.twitter.com/U3zGUPqi86

— Scott Westerfeld (@ScottWesterfeld) March 26, 2015

#BREAKING: 2nd Ave - 7th Street - Building collapse @NYPD9Pct #SOD #ESU #K9 #Aviation #FD pic.twitter.com/HoWmtfWKeW

— NYPD Special Ops (@NYPDSpecialops) March 26, 2015

With the Associated Press