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Tag: New York City explosion

  • 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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  • New York City Explosion: Two Confirmed Dead

    “It’s a very active scene. It’s a very chaotic scene,” said Fire Department spokesman Michael Parrella as he attempted to describe the aftermath of an explosion that occurred in New York City this morning.

    The powerful explosion caused the collapse of a building located at East 114th Street and Park Avenue in East Harlem.

    As of now there are two reported fatalities following the building collapse and at least sixteen injuries. The names of the deceased, both women, have not been released to the public.

    The collapse is thought to have occurred between 9:00 am and 9:30 am.

    Officials have yet to determine the exact cause of the explosion, however residents in the area say that there has been the faintest scent of gas lingering in the area for days. The electric company Con Ed reportedly was requested on rush for a gas leak.

    The New York Police Department said in a statement that it was investigating the nature of the explosion and collapse, which impacted two buildings, which PIX11 reportedly houses a Spanish Christian Church and a piano repair shop.

    One boy was rescued from the debris by eyewitnesses named Alex and David who were across the street from the smoldering rubble. One of the men told PIX11 the boy “had a controller for a PlayStation in his hand”. “He wasn’t moving,” said Alex, “but he had his eyes open.”

    They lamented that despite the fact that a major tragedy was happening in front of them, a number of people were standing around filming the event with their smartphones rather than trying to help.

    Despite the good intentions of these individuals, they were instructed by police and firefighters to stay back as the scene was still very dangerous.

    For now all Metro-North service out of Grand Central station has been suspended. Passengers off trains that were near the explosion were ordered off at the Fordham station in the Bronx.

    Image via Twitter