On Wednesday, a massive explosion occurred followed by a raging fire in East Harlem, Manhattan. The incident took the lives of at least two people, said authorities. Meanwhile, firefighters, who were in the scene, said that two buildings collapsed.
There were 16 people injured, four of which were brought to the Harlem Hospital. Among the injured was a child who suffered a critical condition. This was according to a statement issued by a hospital representative.
The cause of the explosion was still not clear as of this moment. However, Con Ed representative Bob McGee said that there was call earlier today at 9:13 a.m. regarding a gas leak. The call was from a homeowner whose residence is located at one of the new buildings on Park Avenue. The utility has already dispatched a truck after two minutes. However, it arrived too late just after the explosion, said a representative.
Clouds of dark smoke covered the residential area and small enterprises after the explosion. Some residents said that the sound of the explosion can be likened to a bomb, reported CNN.
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