© Andrew Burton/Getty ImagesFirefighters respond to a 5-alarm fire and building collapse in East Harlem on March 12, 2014.
Two people are dead and more than a dozen people are missing after a massive explosion rocked East Harlem, leveling two buildings and sending smoke and flames billowing into the air. At least 22 others were also injured in the blast, which happened around 9:15 a.m. Wednesday on Park Avenue at 116th Street.
The explosion reduced two, five-story buildings to rubble, shattered store windows for blocks and hurled glass, bricks and other debris throughout the neighborhood. Witnesses said the explosion could be heard 40 blocks away.
"I came out, looked up and a building was just gone," witness Mack Mayor said. "It's just like a war zone out here." "The smoke started to rise. It looked like something fell because it wasn't like a fire. It just looked like debris smoke, similar to 9/11," said witness Samuel Paul, who was on the 15th floor of a building on 125th Street.
Hours later, firefighters were still battling the flames as crews began sifting through the debris.
More Than A Dozen Missing
Mayor Bill de Blasio said officials were trying to locate "a number of missing individuals," 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."
The White House also issued a statement offering "thoughts and prayers" and commended first responders.
The two people who were killed were believed to be women in their 40s, police said. Two of those hurt had life-threatening injuries. The two collapsed buildings were 1644 and 1646 Park Avenue. One of the buildings had a piano repair shop with apartments above. The second building housed a church. It's unclear if anyone was inside at the time of the blast, but Carmen Vargas-Rosa, who owns the church, said some of her tenants are unaccounted for.
"We fear for at least four of our tenants who may have been in the building at the time," she said. "We can't reach them on their cell." De Blasio said a hotline was being set up for information on missing persons. In the meantime, he said worried relatives can call 311. The Red Cross has set up a reception area with food and water at nearby P.S. 57 for affected residents and their families.
De Blasio: Gas Leak Caused Explosion
The mayor said the explosion appeared to be caused by a gas leak, saying Con Edison had received a report of a gas odor prior to the explosion.
"This is a tragedy of the worst kind because there was no indication in time to save people," he said. Con Ed said it had already sent crews to investigate the reported gas leak when the blast occurred.
"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.
Vargas-Rosa said she also smelled gas Tuesday night.
"Last night when we came out of church, at the corner outside in the street there was a smell of gas," she said. "I thought it was from the corner store there so I went to the owners and told them and they said they would look into it and then we went home."
The Investigation
Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano said fire marshals are on site and will determine exactly what sparked the blast.
"Right now, they can't get anyway near the source of ignition was," he said. "Once we get through the debris and the rubble, we will get down into the basement and see where we think it was ignited."
The NYPD says there is no indication of terrorism at this point. The FBI is on the scene and the National Transportation Safety Board said it is sending a team to help in the investigation.
Earlier in the day, a drone could be seen flying over the area, CBS 2's Don Champion reported.
"We've been seeing a drone flying above the building," Champion reported. "We assume that it is investigators getting a better vantage point of some of the damage that's been done by this explosion."
Metro-North said the explosion happened adjacent to their tracks. Service in and out of Grand Central Terminal is suspended until further notice.
Re COMMENT...that crossed my mind, too, especially because someone said it looked like a 9/11 whatever it was.