Three people were critically injured and a building partially destroyed after an explosion rocked a five-storey building complex in New York’s East Village Mar. 26.
The New York Times says over a dozen people were injured and at least three critically. Investigators are looking into the possibility that a gas leak caused the explosion.
The New York Times reports that several buildings on Second Avenue, including the two involved in the fire, have been undergoing renovations since late August. The renovations included new gas service pipes.
Witnesses report that flames and black smoke could be seen coming from the roofs of the five-storey buildings. Residents of the apartment buildings rushed down fire escapes to dodge the flames, and many were medically evaluated at the scene for smoke inhalation and injuries.
New York’s health department has asked nearby residents to keep their windows closed until the smoke settles.
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