NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Four apartment buildings in New York’s East Village neighborhood caught fire from an apparent gas explosion on Thursday and three collapsed, causing 19 injuries, authorities said.
The blast shortly after 3 p.m. sent flames leaping into the sky and rocked the residential area in Manhattan. Bloodied victims ran from the buildings, collapsing on the street, witnesses said.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference that preliminary evidence indicated it was a gas-related explosion.
A Fire Department spokesman said late on Thursday that three of the four buildings had collapsed or partially collapsed.
The fourth building “is still involved with some pockets of fire, it’s still an active scene. Investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
