Critical injuries reported in Manhattan building fire, partial collapse

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MANHATTAN, NY (NEWS1130) – Three people are in critical condition and nine others were injured after a building explosion in Manhattan.

The blast led to a seven-alarm fire that erupted in the East Village this afternoon. About 250 firefighters attended the scene.

It was unclear how many people were in the buildings when the fire occurred, according to the fire department. The incident took place in a bustling area with many restaurants and pedestrians, blocks away from New York University. Four buildings were affected, including at least two that partially collapsed, according to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Preliminary evidence suggests a gas-related explosion,” de Blasio said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

The three people in critical condition include two individuals with burns to their airways and another person who was unconscious following the event, according to FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro. The Salvation Army has set up a reception station to support residents of the buildings, family members and neighbors.

Around 3:17 p.m., witnesses reported what sounded like an explosion at a sushi restaurant on the bottom of a five-story pre-war building that houses a handful of residential units.

The flames spread next door to another five-story building.

Byron Barett, a Vancouver man, happened to be in the area. He says the emergency response immediately following the explosion was unbelievable. “I saw, no word of a lie, between 30 to 50 fire trucks. They were actually running out of cops to do crowd control, so 20 guys on motor scooters, 20 police officers on motor scooters just showed up to do crowd control.”

He says the smell from the fire was very intense. “It smelled like, if you have ever been inside of a machine shop, it smelled like burning metal. Within seconds it then smelled like a heavy campfire.”

Barett says the entire sky turned into a yellow, grey colour.

 

 

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