New York fire: building collapses, 19 injured

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Nineteen people were injured, including four seriously, Thursday after an explosion presumably due to gas that caused the collapse of three buildings and a major fire in the heart of New York.

Among the seriously injured, two people suffered severe burns, especially to the respiratory tract, and another was blown away by the initial explosion.

According to a spokeswoman for the fire department, five hours after the start of the blaze, more than 200 firefighters were still fighting the incident affecting store and residential buildings in the East Village district, on the Manhattan Island.

A spokeswoman for the fire department added that two buildings, 121 Second Avenue, where the initial explosion occurred, and an adjacent building, as well as 123 Second Avenue, had completely collapsed. A fourth building was badly damaged by the fire that followed.

According to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, the initial explosion was caused by work on water and gas pipes carried out on the avenue in front of the affected buildings.

“Pommes Frites”, a famous Belgian restaurant, was located at 123 Second Avenue. The building completely collapsed and an image posted by firefighters on Twitter showed nothing more than a pile of debris from which thick smoke billowed.

The smell of burning and smoke enveloped much of Manhattan about 40 blocks north.

Authorities have advised New Yorkers to keep their windows closed to avoid any problems caused by inhalation.

The Red Cross has for its part installed emergency accommodation in a nearby school for people who lived in these collapsed or damaged buildings.

The East Village is one of the hottest neighborhoods for artists and affluent New Yorkers. It has many shops, bars and restaurants.

Last year, a fire caused by an explosion due to a gas leak killed eight people in the Harlem neighborhood.

“I will take this opportunity to remind, as it was said several times after the Harlem tragedy, that if you smell gas you must immediately call 911” (the emergency number), said the Mayor for the 8.4 million inhabitants of New York.

Fire chief Daniel Nigro said his men were on site three minutes after the emergency call at 3:17 p.m.