Manhattan Building Collapse: Explosion, Fire in East Village Injure Two Dozen

New York City firefighters work the scene of a large fire and a partial building collapse in New York’s East Village on March 26, 2015. (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

New York City firefighters work the scene of a large fire and a partial building collapse in New York's East Village on March 26, 2015. Orange flames and black smoke were seen billowing from the facade and roof of the building near several New York University buildings. (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

 

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a statement on the building collapse.

“Our thoughts and our prayers are with every one of them and their families. And of course, we are praying that no other individuals are found injured, and that there are no fatalities, but that is an ongoing effort that FDNY and all other first responders are involved in,” he said.

He added: “I want to also commend the FDNY. This is a complex and difficult operation they’re mounting here, obviously doing everything they can to search for anyone who still may be in those buildings, but also to ensure that there’s not spread of fire to the surrounding buildings. And the FDNY, as usual, is doing an extraordinary job handling this very, very difficult situation.”

 

 

 

Emergency personnel and crowds gather at the site of a building collapse in the area of East 7th and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan's East Village, March 26, 2015. (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

 

A YouTube user uploaded video footage of the fire. He's apparently a neighbor next to the collapsed building (Youtube user James Lesni/screenshot)

The building is located near East 7th Streets and 2nd Ave. Specifically, the building is at 125 2nd Ave.

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The area was being evacuated, and the city’s health department advised residents to keep their windows closed because of the smoke. Investigators were looking into whether there had been a gas leak. 

New York City firefighters work at the scene of a large fire and a partial building collapse in the East Village neighborhood of New York on Thursday, March 26, 2015, in New York, after an apartment building on fire near New York University collapsed on Thursday. Two nearby buildings began burning and firefighters said at least 12 people were hurt, three critically, and other people were being evaluated at the scene. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NYPD officers on the scene of the fire and collapse (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

 

Emergency personnel and crowds gather at the site of a building collapse in the area of East 7th and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan's East Village, March 26, 2015. (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

 

“The fire is almost down to smoke now,” said writer Scott Westerfeld. “FDNY may have saved the adjoining buildings. Still four streams of water on it.”

 Adil Choudhury, who lives a block away, ran outside when he heard “a huge boom.”

“Already there was smoke everywhere” when he saw the building, he said. “The flames were coming out from the roof. The fire was coming out of every window.”

Freelance photographer Michael Seto said he could feel the explosion in his apartment, about 1 ½ blocks away.

A New York City fire department Arson investigator arrives at the scene of a large fire and a partial building collapse in the East Village neighborhood of New York on Thursday, March 26, 2015. An apartment building on fire near New York University collapsed on Thursday. Two nearby buildings began burning and firefighters said at least 12 people were hurt, three critically, and other people were being evaluated at the scene. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)