Developing: Apartment Building Explodes in Harlem, At Least Two Dead (UPDATED)
A five-story apartment building on or around 116 St and Park Ave in East Harlem exploded around 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, sending billowing smoke into the air and stopping Metro North trains in both directions. The New York Fire Department is calling it a 3-alarm fire (since upgraded to a 4-alarm), and report eleven people have been injured so far. It is unknown if people are still inside the building.
UPDATE 10:40: The NYPD bomb squad is now reporting to the scene.
UPDATE 11:36: Authorities are now reporting one person has died and at least seventeen are injured, while ConEd has reported that it was called to the address about a gas leak just before the explosion.
UPDATE 12:13: The New York Times reported at least two dead, and authorities expected that number to rise.
According to one eyewitness, nearly half the building had collapsed on the street by the time emergency crews had arrived.
Now: Photo of #Manhattan collapse. #FDNY has 39 units and 168 members responding. The scene is developing. pic.twitter.com/zWhTmi9Dsm
— FDNY (@FDNY) March 12, 2014
Major fires being extinguished at the scene, crews and teams everywhere working to stop it. pic.twitter.com/0sP9iaDd6W
— Adnan Islam (@orangeadnan) March 12, 2014
Major fires being extinguished at the scene, crews and teams everywhere working to stop it. pic.twitter.com/0sP9iaDd6W
— Adnan Islam (@orangeadnan) March 12, 2014
Huge explosion uptown new york city near metro north train tracks close to 116th..#developing pic.twitter.com/uNZaFsRSKa
— Obi Okere (@obiokere) March 12, 2014
There is heavy smoke – it seems the fire is still going strong. Building is on Park btw 116 & 117. pic.twitter.com/pa676UzHXu
— Kate Taylor (@katetaylornyt) March 12, 2014
Some video of fire that has stopped @MetroNorth in and out of city. pic.twitter.com/mPn7GMMC4f
— Jonathan Miller (@jonathanmiller) March 12, 2014
Debris covers the neighborhood @ThisIsVarEZ: Damn that building explosion on 116th n Park ave #Harlem pic.twitter.com/H7eZfYYQr7
— theBravest (@theBravest) March 12, 2014
Watch a clip on the explosion below, via Fox News:
Mediaite will update this post as more information becomes available.
[h/t NY1]
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