Friday, March 27, 2015

Noted

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

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."



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...

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

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