New York Blaze : At least 30 injured and people trapped after building collapses and catches fire in Manhattan

 

A building burns after an explosion on 2nd Avenue in New York City. Photo / AFP

At least 30 people have been injured - including one critically - after a five-story building collapsed and surrounding buildings caught alight in New York City's East Village.

Smoke rises from a burning building in New York City. The seven alarm fire drew firefighters from across the city. Photo / AFP

Flames ravaged the structure and three other neighboring buildings on Second Avenue and 7th Street following the explosion just before 3.30pm. Thick gray smoke billowed across the sky as the roof began to collapse and debris could be seen strewn across the street.

U/D Manhattan: *7 Alarm* 125 2 Ave 1 Critical patient transported to Belvue #FDNY #BREAKING #NYC pic.twitter.com/SgiExEkBcp
— NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) March 26, 2015

NYC Scanner reported multiple serious injuries and one critical patient transported to hospital, while 175 firefighters responsed to the seven alarm blaze. It reported that more people could still be trapped inside.
Retired FDNY fire chief Vincent Dunn told WABC that it appears the building above the explosion collapsed and the fire was pushing up and out.

U/D Manhattan: *7 Alarm* 125 2 Ave multiple serious injuries reported. #BREAKING #FDNY #NYC pic.twitter.com/GXeAowAuFP
— NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) March 26, 2015

The buildings are mixed occupancy. They include 121 and 123 Second Avenue, which house a sushi restaurant and a Belgian restaurant.

Okay. I've uploaded some video. http://t.co/5IC7q7xQ1c
— Scott Westerfeld (@ScottWesterfeld) March 26, 2015

Multiple ambulances and a K9 unit have been sent to respond to the incident and authorities have been closing down surrounding streets, concerned about the building collapsing further, the New York Times reported.

Smoke rises from a burning building after an explosion on 2nd Avenue in New York City. Photo / AFP

A witness named Alexandria told WABC that she was going to have lunch at the sushi restaurant where the explosion may have happened, but decided to get ramen at a restaurant a few doors down. When the explosion happened, she said the glass in the ramen restaurant shook "like it was rubber".
She ran outside and saw several people climbing out of the building including a woman who was bleeding profusely from her face. She helped take that woman to the hospital with her boyfriend, and asked them what happened.

U/D Manhattan: 125 2 Ave 30 People injuired multiple still trapped. 5th alarm transmitted. #FDNY #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/HVcsNZfxYI
— NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) March 26, 2015

The couple said they were eating in the sushi restaurant when a man came in and asked to use the restroom. They say he 'didn't take enough time to use the restroom and then ran out' and that's when the restaurant exploded.
Alexandria said she tried to tell police her story, but was pushed back away from the scene.
Those with family and friends in area have taken to Twitter with worries for their loved ones.
"Freaking out about NYC. My friend lives on that block. He's not replying to me. Does anyone know what blew up? Enzs?' one Twitter user wrote shortly before 4pm.
"It was this slow rumble and then bricks tumbled into the street," a WABC reporter said of the moment the building collapsed.
 

A building has partially collapsed and another is on fire in New York City after an apparent explosion.

Emergency services are on the scene and say at least one person is critically injured.
Live footage showed flames and smoke pouring out of a five-floor building, and the fire brigade spraying the building.
The area in Manhattan's East Village - close to New York University - is being evacuated.
Emergency services started received calls reporting the fire around 15:15 local time (19:15 GMT).
 
Several callers reported hearing an explosion, and more than 100 fire fighters have been sent to the scene, the New York Times reported.
As many as six people have been injured, including one who is said to be in critical condition, local news station WABC reported.
Fire brigades began spraying the flames, but had to retreat after the flames became too intense, the local station reported.
The station said that there are fears that the other building could collapse as well, and it's not clear if anyone has been trapped in the building or rubble.
A year ago a gas explosion razed two buildings leaving eight people dead in nearby East Harlem.