Thursday, March 26, 2015

Exclusive: Aerial footage showing the aftermath of today's East Village explosion



Video starts at 5:30 p.m. ...

Video: The chaotic moments after the explosion on 2nd Avenue



Video via Troy Hinson (aka Troyquan)

This evening on St. Mark's Place at 2nd Avenue



Photo by Greg Masters...

Previously

Con Ed's statement on today's explosion on 2nd Avenue


[Photo by Peter Brownscombe]

Con Edison is working with fire officials and other agencies at the scene of today’s explosion and building collapse on 2nd Avenue near 7th Street in the East Village. Earlier today, Con Edison personnel were at the location to evaluate work the building plumber was doing inside 121 2nd Ave. in connection with a gas service upgrade. The work failed our inspection for several reasons, including insufficient spacing for the installation of the meter in the basement.

We had no reports of gas odors in the area prior to the fire and explosion. A survey conducted yesterday of the gas mains on the block found no leaks. We continue to work with all agencies on the investigation into the cause, and we are praying for the recovery of all the injured.

via the Con Ed website

Previously

On the scene: 121 and 123 2nd Ave. earlier today



We'll update the situation with today's explosion and fire at 121 and 123 Second Ave. as soon as more information is available… here are a few scenes of the FDNY, a group numbering more than 200 firefighters and 45 units earlier today...









Photos via EVG contributor Stacie Joy

7:15 p.m.



Via an EVG reader… looking south on Second Avenue this evening…

Previously

'A very long night'


[Photo this afternoon by James & Karla Murray]

Coverage from Gothamist:

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said the call about the explosion came in at 3:17 p.m., and the FDNY had a three minute response time. "They were not expecting this scene," he said. "The first 15 minutes [firefighters] made extremely dangerous searches of these buildings." He said that 119 is a fully-involved fire, and still in danger of possible collapse.

"We will be here for a very long night," Nigro added.

A statement about air quality



Find the statement here

'Today our community's heart is breaking'


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

Statement from City Councilmember Rosie Mendez on today's explosion on Second Avenue:

"Today our community's heart is breaking. My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragedy. I am working closely with emergency services, my colleagues in government and with community leaders to respond to this horrible event. I thank the people of New York for the outpouring of concern and support. We pray for the victims and their families."

[Updating] Explosion on 2nd Avenue and East 7th Street








[Photo by Jonathan Jones]

3:29 p.m. FDNY says a building collapse at 125 Second Ave. (Officially it's 121 and 123 Second Ave.)



3:31 p.m. The scene from East Sixth Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square









3:47 p.m.







3:54 p.m.



3:56 p.m. The Post reports that up to 30 people are injured. The FDNY is trying to contain the fires from spreading to more buildings on the west side of Second Avenue between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...

4:04 p.m.


[Image via @brittanyTvisser]

4:13 p.m. Coverage from WABC-7...

The FDNY arrived on the scene to find a sushi restaurant on the lower level collapsed and smoke pluming throughout the building. Then flames began shooting through the roof and quickly spread to a neighboring building.

Firefighters were pouring water onto the flames, but they had to pull back due to the intensity, and fire officials expected one or both of the buildings would eventually fall.


[Photo via @mesh_mellow]

4:20 p.m. The scene now looking north on Second Avenue by peter radley...









The scene from East Fifth Street and Second Avenue...



4:22 p.m. The scene from East Seventh Street and First Avenue via John Iz...



4:33 p.m. The scene from East Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue via John Iz...



4:43 p.m.







More from the NYPD Special Ops...





4:53 p.m.



4:55 p.m.





5:05 p.m. A reader just shared this video ... not sure of the exact time...



5:06 p.m. From The Wall Street Journal:

A preliminary investigation indicated the fire and building collapse was due to a gas explosion, the official said.

The scene created chaos in the East Village, a neighborhood filled with apartment buildings, restaurants and bars. Perry Kroll, who lives a block away, said he felt his whole building shake, and all of his neighbors spilled out into the street.

“There’s an epic smoke column rising from the block,” he said. “I can see really big flames everywhere and chunks of ash falling from the sky. It looks like a building just blew out into the street. It’s just absolute chaos.”

5:10 p.m.



5:13 p.m. From The Neighborhood School on East Third Street between Avenue A and First Avenue

Dear Families,

By now I am sure you've heard about the building collapse/fire in the Lower East Side. Our school will be used as a Red Cross Shelter for displaced families starting tonight. If you, or anyone you know needs any kind of assistance, please let me know.

5:20 p.m. The view now from 190 E. Seventh St. via John Iz...



5:23 p.m.

Video shows East Village building collapsing after explosion and intense fire. (courtesy of Daniel Berkowitz.) Watch updates LIVE on NY1: http://bit.ly/1ACyxrg

Posted by NY1 on Thursday, March 26, 2015

6:09 p.m.

The Red Cross is setting up at The Neighborhood School on East Third Street… we haven't heard anything about donations for those residents who lost their homes this afternoon…


[Photo by Yenta Laureate]

6:15 p.m.



6:27 p.m. The Times has updated its story.

A powerful explosion in the East Village on Thursday caused two buildings to collapse and ignited a large fire that quickly spread to neighboring buildings, leaving at least a dozen people injured, at least three of them critically.

Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York, speaking at a news conference at the scene, said that “preliminary evidence suggests a gas-related explosion” was caused by plumbing and gas work being done at 121 Second Avenue, near Seventh Street.

The explosion and ensuing fire destroyed that building and led to the collapse of an adjacent building, 123 Second Avenue.

Two other buildings were damaged, and one of those buildings was still in danger of collapse, officials said.

The buildings that house Pommes Frites (No. 123) and Sushi Park (No. 121) have been destroyed.


[Photo via @nypost]

7:37 p.m.



7:47 p.m. Here is the full text of Mayor De Blasio's press conference earlier… as well as comments from other city officials...