The FDNY remains on the scene along 2nd Avenue

#FDNY units will remain on-scene in #EastVillage as operations continue today. pic.twitter.com/mhzF5loGss

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 27, 2015

And we have more photos... a view of the three destroyed buildings at the northwest corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street ... via EVG reader Laurie...





And a few dramatic shots from last night by EVG reader Conway Liao...

Noted

Retweet to get the word out: Call 911 or @conedison immediately if you ever smell gas.

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 27, 2015

Report: DA eyeing contractor working at 121 Second Ave.

[Photo this morning by peter radley]

Per DNAinfo:

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office and other agencies are investigating whether contractor Dilber Kukic, 39, played a role in the blast that started at 121 Second Ave., sources said.

Kukic — whose construction firm performed work at the address in the past — was already under the scrutiny of Manhattan prosecutors in an unrelated case. He was arrested last month for an alleged role in a widespread bribery scandal involving city inspectors.

Read the whole article here.

The view of 2nd Avenue and East 7th Street this morning

Photo by EVG contributor jdx



Photo by Dean Neistat via Twitter

Morning update

.@FDNY fire operations continue in #EastVillage. Reception Center is open for affected residents at 331 E. 10th St. pic.twitter.com/xzmFuQiBpx

— Joe Esposito (@JoeEspoNYC) March 27, 2015

Update: 2 people now reported missing; 25 injured after yesterday's 2nd Avenue explosion

[2nd Avenue this morning via Vinny & O]

NY1 has an update on yesterday's explosion:

Two people are listed as being unaccounted for as investigators keep looking into Thursday's explosion in the East Village that injured more than two dozen people and brought down three buildings.

The NYPD says official missing persons reports have not yet been filed, but are under further verification and investigation.

The FDNY says the number of those injured now stands at 25. They include 20 civilians, four firefighters and one EMS worker.

Four of the injured are in critical condition.

While the cause of the blast and subsequent fire that destroyed 119, 121 and 123 Second Ave. remains under investigation, Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro told reporters: "To the best of our knowledge, they were working on the gas in the building [No. 121]."

Also, NY1 reports that, according to City Councilmember Rosie Mendez, 11 nearby buildings in the area have evacuation orders, which includes 144 apartments.

"Mendez says 80 people — 79 adults and one baby — have registered with the Red Cross. She says 30 people — 29 adults and one baby — need a place to stay."

Red Cross station to help people affected by the explosion is now at Tompkins Square Library at 331 e10th, btw Aves A & B.

— East Village (@EastVillageNY) March 27, 2015

Updated 9:54 a.m. Here is a photo of Nicholas Figueroa, 23, who was eating at Sushi Park with a co-worker at the time of the blast. He remains unaccounted for...



The Wall Street Journal reports that Moises Lucon, who worked at Sushi Park, 121 Second Ave., is the second man missing after the blast.

Previously

The News

The article.

2nd Avenue and East 6th Street, 7:04 a.m.

...and another photo via Vinny and O from just before 8 a.m. ...

[Updated] The remains

Late-night photos of 119-123 Second Ave. via @edenbrower …



119 Second Ave. at the corner of East Seventh Street (one-time home to Love Saves the Day) is gone … as is 121 Second Ave., where the blast occurred yesterday afternoon (Sushi Park is the retail tenant), and 123 Second Ave., where Pommes Frittes and Sam's Deli were the retail businesses. We do not know the status of Enz's, the shop at 125 Second Ave., though we did hear via Facebook that owner Mariann Marlowe got away safely. The folks at B&H Dairy at 127 Second Ave. reported on Facebook that they are OK and will be open for business soon…

The latest published reports say that 19 people were injured, four critically. Two men are still missing. Will continue to update today throughout the day.


[Via Google Streetview]

The Village Chinese Therapy Center and King's Copies were also destroyed on East Seventh Street...


[Via Google Streetview]

Next-door neighbors Jimmy's No. 43 and Standings are day to day...

We'll remain closed today. We're day to day and will update as we have news to share. Thanks for love + support.

— Jimmy's No. 43 (@JimmysNo43) March 27, 2015

FDNY continues into the night at 121-123 2nd Ave.

#FDNY operations in the #EastVillage continue into the night. pic.twitter.com/dKUbcma91b

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 27, 2015