[ 27 March 2015 07:14 ]
Baku-APA. At least nineteen people were injured, three of them criticially so, after an explosion and partial building collapse in New York City's East Village neighborhood. The fire spread through the seven-floor building on Thursday afternoon, the cause of it not yet been determined, though a problem with a gas line is suspected, APA reports quoting US media.
Retired deputy fire chief Vincent Dunn told ABC7 the fire will likely take several days to put out. The ground floor of the building was home to the Sushi Park restaurant, which may have had a large gas supply, he said. The building is 100 years old. By 9 PM, authorities had blocked off six streets surrounding the scene and the Second Avenue was entirely inaccessible. Firefighters used three hoses to battle the flames and directed residents who were vacated from their homes to a nearby elementary school serving as an emergency shelter. Dozens of emergency vehicles were parked around the scene.
The Fire Department of New York said it first received reports of an explosion on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place at around 3:20 p.m and at least 100 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Two of those critically injured were burned in their airways, the third was unconscious.
