An apartment building on 2nd Avenue in Manhattan is burning. The FDNY responded to an explosion in the East Village neighborhood at around 3 p.m. on March 26.
Here’s what we know so far:
1. The Building Has Collapsed
The building has collapsed. The FDNY are on scene, in force, and are battling the blaze, they haven’t mentioned the severity of the damage, reports ABC New York.
2. Up to 30 People Are Injured
The burning building is located at 121 2nd Avenue near East 7th Street and St. Mark’s Place. The New York Post reports that up to 30 people are injured, some are being treated at the scene, others are being rushed to area hospitals.
According to New York 1, so far three people are in critical condition. The fire has now spread to surrounding buildings at 121 and 123 2nd Avenue.
3. People Could Still Be Trapped
(Twitter/@NYPDSpecialops)
The Wall Street Journal reports that firefighters are scraping through the rubble in a desperate search for survivors. The FDNY tweeted that this is a “major building collapse.”
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DNA Info reports that there has been a stop work order on the building, due to its landmarked status, since 2005.
4. Gas Is Suspected of Causing the Explosion
The cause of the explosion is unknown at this point. Fox New York reporter Jodi Goldberg tweeted that the fire was “likely gas explosion.” Con Edison shut down electricity in the area. An NYPD source told reporter Peter Haskell that a construction crew may have impacted a gas line.
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There are reports that people are stuck in subways underneath the location. The MTA’s F and L trains run under the area around the East Village. On Twitter, those in the west Village, on the opposite side of Manhattan have reported smelling smoke from the fire. Streets around the fire have been closed off to the public.
5. The Building Was First Built in 1900
ABC New York reports that the fire is a 7-alarm blaze. The building was built in 1900, it’s a 26 unit apartment complex. The street-level of the building is occupied by Enzs NYC, a woman’s clothing boutique.
