2 Dead After Explosion, Fire Levels Buildings In East Harlem
At Least 18 Others Injured As Hundreds Of Firefighters Battle Blaze
March 12, 2014 12:40 PM
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Flames and smoke were sent billowing into the air after an explosion leveled two buildings in East Harlem Wednesday, killing two people and injuring more than a dozen others.
Speaking from the scene, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the explosion appeared to be caused by a gas leak.
“This is a tragedy of the worst kind,” he said.
He said the “only indication of danger” came about 15 minutes before the blast, which happened around 9:15 a.m. on Park Avenue at 116th Street.
Con Edison said crews were already responding to the area on a report of a gas odor when the explosion occurred.
PHOTOS: Harlem Explosion | Watch Live
“The call came in at 9:13 a.m. from a resident who reported smelling gas inside the apartment, but the resident indicated the odor may have been coming from outside the building,” Con Ed spokesman Sydney Alvarez said. “Two Con Edison crews were dispatched at about 9:15 a.m. and arrived just after the explosion occurred.”
Alvarez said the street is served by an eight-inch low-pressure gas main and that crews are checking gas lines and other structures for any possible leaks.
Police said two women were killed in the blast and at least 18 others were injured. Harlem Hospital said it received five patients with serious trauma. Mount Sinai Hospital is also treating several patients.
De Blasio said there are also a number people still missing from the blast, but said some may have fled to safety. He said once the fire is out, a thorough search will be conducted for anyone who may be trapped in the rubble.
“Our hearts go out to all the families involved,” he said. “We are spending every effort to locate each and every loved one.”
He said a hotline was being set up. In the meantime, he said worried relatives can call 311.
Video from the scene showed huge flames and heavy smoke as hundreds of firefighters battled the five-alarm blaze. Debris and rubble could be seen scattered all over the area.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion.
READ MORE
Charlie Rangel: ‘Our community’s 9/11’
By TAL KOPAN | 3/12/14
Rep. Charles Rangel called an apparent building explosion and collapse in his home district in Harlem, New York the most “horrific” thing that has hit his home district in his time in Washington and his community’s Sept. 11.
“I’ve never had anything this horrific that’s happened in my community since I’ve been in Washington,” Rangel told NBC’s New York affiliate Wednesday as news reports of the fire response continued to come in. “I hope that soon, and very soon, it will be contained and we can go back to some degree of normal normalcy.”
The New York Democrat said his entire staff in New York was onhand and he was evaluating whether he needs to leave Washington to go home Wednesday night to be there for his community.
(Also on POLITICO: 1 dead in NYC building explosion, 15 injured)
In the meantime, he said members of Congress from New York were watching the reports come in.
“This is a very serious thing. It’s our community’s 9/11, even though we don’t know how it started,” Rangel said. “The whole New York delegation has been concerned, and members that are not in committee are glued to the television and hearing reports from you makes us at least a little closer to home.”
Rangel said the lack of information heightened the worry.
“The mystery of all of this thing is just worrisome,” Rangel said. “It is a frightening thought. And especially, you don’t know what caused it, how to contain it, how far, how dangerous it is now, even though it’s being contained. I understand the buildings have collapsed, And there is nothing more of a nightmare to think there may be people in those buildings as it collapsed.”
(PHOTOS: Charlie Rangel’s career)
The Fire Department of New York elevated the blaze to a five-alarm fire Wednesday morning, it tweeted. Metro North train service was also suspended as the building was adjacent to train tracks.
At least one person was killed and 16 were injured, The New York Times reported after Rangel’s interview.
Rangel is in his 22nd term in Congress and is running for a 23rd term this fall.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/charlie-rangel-harlem-explosion-104576.html#ixzz2vlo5Dl6W
At Least 18 Others Injured As Hundreds Of Firefighters Battle Blaze
March 12, 2014 12:40 PM
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Flames and smoke were sent billowing into the air after an explosion leveled two buildings in East Harlem Wednesday, killing two people and injuring more than a dozen others.
Speaking from the scene, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the explosion appeared to be caused by a gas leak.
“This is a tragedy of the worst kind,” he said.
He said the “only indication of danger” came about 15 minutes before the blast, which happened around 9:15 a.m. on Park Avenue at 116th Street.
Con Edison said crews were already responding to the area on a report of a gas odor when the explosion occurred.
PHOTOS: Harlem Explosion | Watch Live
“The call came in at 9:13 a.m. from a resident who reported smelling gas inside the apartment, but the resident indicated the odor may have been coming from outside the building,” Con Ed spokesman Sydney Alvarez said. “Two Con Edison crews were dispatched at about 9:15 a.m. and arrived just after the explosion occurred.”
Alvarez said the street is served by an eight-inch low-pressure gas main and that crews are checking gas lines and other structures for any possible leaks.
Police said two women were killed in the blast and at least 18 others were injured. Harlem Hospital said it received five patients with serious trauma. Mount Sinai Hospital is also treating several patients.
De Blasio said there are also a number people still missing from the blast, but said some may have fled to safety. He said once the fire is out, a thorough search will be conducted for anyone who may be trapped in the rubble.
“Our hearts go out to all the families involved,” he said. “We are spending every effort to locate each and every loved one.”
He said a hotline was being set up. In the meantime, he said worried relatives can call 311.
Video from the scene showed huge flames and heavy smoke as hundreds of firefighters battled the five-alarm blaze. Debris and rubble could be seen scattered all over the area.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion.
READ MORE
Charlie Rangel: ‘Our community’s 9/11’
By TAL KOPAN | 3/12/14
Rep. Charles Rangel called an apparent building explosion and collapse in his home district in Harlem, New York the most “horrific” thing that has hit his home district in his time in Washington and his community’s Sept. 11.
“I’ve never had anything this horrific that’s happened in my community since I’ve been in Washington,” Rangel told NBC’s New York affiliate Wednesday as news reports of the fire response continued to come in. “I hope that soon, and very soon, it will be contained and we can go back to some degree of normal normalcy.”
The New York Democrat said his entire staff in New York was onhand and he was evaluating whether he needs to leave Washington to go home Wednesday night to be there for his community.
(Also on POLITICO: 1 dead in NYC building explosion, 15 injured)
In the meantime, he said members of Congress from New York were watching the reports come in.
“This is a very serious thing. It’s our community’s 9/11, even though we don’t know how it started,” Rangel said. “The whole New York delegation has been concerned, and members that are not in committee are glued to the television and hearing reports from you makes us at least a little closer to home.”
Rangel said the lack of information heightened the worry.
“The mystery of all of this thing is just worrisome,” Rangel said. “It is a frightening thought. And especially, you don’t know what caused it, how to contain it, how far, how dangerous it is now, even though it’s being contained. I understand the buildings have collapsed, And there is nothing more of a nightmare to think there may be people in those buildings as it collapsed.”
(PHOTOS: Charlie Rangel’s career)
The Fire Department of New York elevated the blaze to a five-alarm fire Wednesday morning, it tweeted. Metro North train service was also suspended as the building was adjacent to train tracks.
At least one person was killed and 16 were injured, The New York Times reported after Rangel’s interview.
Rangel is in his 22nd term in Congress and is running for a 23rd term this fall.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/charlie-rangel-harlem-explosion-104576.html#ixzz2vlo5Dl6W