A building in New York City's East Village collapsed Thursday afternoon after a reported explosion and fire, potentially injuring more than two dozen people.
Emergency personnel have shut down Second Avenue, normally a bustling street filled with students, tourists, and community members, for more than a dozen blocks around the site of the fire. According to ABC News, 13 people were injured by the blast and the fire, four of them critically.
While there were reports of an explosion and the scent of gas around 3:30 p.m., bystanders in the area quickly began posting photos and videos from the scene near Second Avenue and 7th Street. The New York Post reported that as many as 30 people had been hurt.
By 4:00 p.m., the Fire Department of New York said on Twitter that it was responding to a seven-alarm fire that had spread beyond the site of the initial explosion. More than 200 firefighters were sent to the scene. The two buildings destroyed today were both undergoing construction projects, according to The New York Times. FDNY officials say that a gas leak was likely the cause of the explosion, although that has not yet been confirmed; utility workers had been at the buildings all day.
By 4:00 p.m., the Fire Department of New York said on Twitter that it was responding to a seven-alarm fire that had spread beyond the site of the initial explosion. More than 200 firefighters were sent to the scene. The two buildings destroyed today were both undergoing construction projects, according to The New York Times. FDNY officials say that a gas leak was likely the cause of the explosion, although that has not yet been confirmed; utility workers had been at the buildings all day.
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MAN 7-ALARM 125 2 AVE, MIXED OCCUPANCY MAJOR BUILDING COLLAPSE,
— FDNY (@FDNY) March 26, 2015
Huge explosion at 7th St and 2nd ave pic.twitter.com/0fUGs1Jy60
— Erika Eichelberger (@eichelberger_e) March 26, 2015
At the scene: RT @NiallStanage: This is not good at all. pic.twitter.com/qc5WfQKc0l #EastVillage
— Neetzan Zimmerman (@neetzan) March 26, 2015
A building in the East Village has collapsed following a reported gas explosion. http://t.co/ZFb3krCFol pic.twitter.com/6ypNmeF8Zx
— Gawker (@Gawker) March 26, 2015
Holy fuck ---> RT @AustinHunt: Photos of the scene around 2nd Ave in East Village, NYC (via @EastVillageEats) pic.twitter.com/1ndwLTUCkP
— Conz Preti (@conz) March 26, 2015
7th street completely closed off -my street- till tbd pic.twitter.com/Wb1xRq2nFr
— Anna Brand (@thebrandedgirl) March 26, 2015
This is a breaking story and has been updated to reflect new information as it was reported.