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Tag: Gas explosion New York City

  • New York City Explosion Now A Federal Investigation

    The fatal explosion that brought on the collapse of a pair of New York City apartment buildings on Wednesday morning is now at the center of a federal investigation.

    “We are operating under the assumption at this point that it is a natural gas leak that led to an explosion,” said Robert Sumwalt, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board.

    The gas explosion, which is blamed for at least eight deaths and dozens of injuries, is something that unfortunately cannot be closely examined by authorities just yet.

    That will require access to the Upper East Side neighborhood’s main gas pipe. As the rubble is still smoldering, fire officials continue to consider it a safety hazard.

    Sumwalt said that once firefighters give the word that it’s safe, investigators intend to conduct a pressure test. The test is expected to pinpoint the source of the gas leak that led to the powerful explosion.

    Residents in the area had reportedly complained to the Con Edison utility about the faint odor of gas for days ahead of the explosion, including the early morning hours before tragedy struck.

    Following the explosion, a devastating collapse followed. The event took the lives of eight individuals, Only four of the deceased have had their identities released to the public: Griselde Camacho, 44, Carmen Tanco, 67, Rosaura Hernandez, 21, and Andreas Panagopoulos, 43.

    New York mayor Bill de Blasio said that 40 injuries thus far have been blamed on the explosion.

    Some individuals are alleged to remain unaccounted for, raising speculation that there will be more bodies found among the rubble.

    While much of the damage was heavily concentrated at the two collapsed apartment buildings located at East 116th Street and Park Avenue, several other nearby buildings are said to have lost heat and gas services in the aftermath of the explosion.

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  • At Least Six Killed in East Harlem Gas Leak Blast

    At least six people are dead after an explosion reportedly due to a gas leak at 1644-46 Park Avenue in East Harlem Wednesday morning.

    Con Edison received a call at 9:13 a.m. Wednesday from a resident at 1652 Park Avenue about the detectable smell of gas that had strengthened since the night before, surrounding two buildings by 116th Street and Park Avenue. The call was placed 18 minutes before the two buildings collapsed.

    The blast, which city officials said was caused by a gas leak, killed at least six people and wounded at least 27 more. Rescue workers continued to search the rubble into the night. Nine occupants of the buildings were still missing as of late Wednesday.

    The five-story buildings stood 55-feet tall and held a church and a piano repair shop on the ground levels, as well as a total of 15 apartments, according to Building Department records.

    The explosion blew out windows in surrounding buildings and sent debris crashing onto nearby streets. People were trapped in the rubble, in neighboring apartments, and in their cars. Individuals rushed towards the buildings, making rescue attempts.

    There was little warning, and not enough to safely evacuate the area, Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference near where the buildings once stood.

    “This is a tragedy of the worst kind because there was no indication in time to save people,” the Mayor said.

    Those injured were taken to several area hospitals, where most were treated and released. Officials said 13 people went to Harlem Hospital Center, including a 15-year-old boy in critical condition; 22 people to Mount Sinai Hospital, including a woman in critical condition with head trauma; and 18 at Metropolitan Hospital Center, all with minor injuries.

    Approximately 250 firefighters from 44 units responded to the blast. They used heavy equipment to clear destroyed vehicles outside the buildings. Firefighters sifted through debris brick by brick, and by late afternoon were seen handing off buckets of debris to clear the site. Remaining hot spots in the debris, cold weather and winds Wednesday night continued to limit rescue efforts.

    A team from the National Transportation Safety Board, which oversees pipeline safety, arrived to help investigate the reason for the gas leak. The cause remained unclear Wednesday night.

    Image via Twitter