At Least Two Dead in East Harlem Building Collapse

The Police Department of New York reported two killed by an explosion and the collapse of two buildings in the area of Harlem. The dead were two women.
Emergency crews are responding and the incident has produced at least 20 injured.
At about 9:30 local time, firefighters responded to a call about the collapse of a building in East Harlem .
Television footage shows smoke and dust and debris out of the fire department pouring water on the property .Neighborhood residents said they had heard an explosion in the five-story building apartment, located on the corner of 116th Street and Park Avenue, before it collapsed.

All train services arriving and departing from Grand Central terminal were suspended following the incident, which occurred near the road, which could have debris.
The New York Fire Department placed the incident in the highest possible level of threat and announced the dispatch of 168 troops from over 35 nearby stations.

It seems that it was an explosion from a gas leak in the residential building.
The explosion brought to mind the attacks on the twin towers on September 11, 2001 .
The local gas company closed the supply after the explosion, which damaged the windows of nearby buildings.

The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio said in a press conference from the scene that the gas leak was reported to the company just 15 minutes before the explosion .
De Blasio said the » big bang » destroyed two buildings and severely damaged other structures.
He added that there are several missing. «We are making every effort to find them .»