Explosion And Building Collapse In New York

By Sky News US Team, in New York

An explosion has triggered a building collapse and fire in New York City, killing at least two people and injuring 17 others.

The blast near Park Avenue and 116th Street in East Harlem levelled two apartment buildings.

Crews battling to put out the fire. Pic: Karolina Knepaite

Witnesses reported hearing a large explosion around 9am.

One five-storey building appeared to be reduced to rubble, and images from the scene showed a second building also severely damaged.

Fire crews attempt to sift through the rubble

Aerial footage showed a large plume of smoke and debris scattered in the area.

Sky News New York correspondent Hannah Thomas-Peter is at the scene and says she saw one person being removed on a stretcher.

Debris rained down on the street and cars below. Pic: @miss_softy/Twitter

She described an "acrid smell" in the area and said people are wearing masks due to lingering smoke.

Witnesses say the blast was so powerful it knocked groceries off the shelves of nearby stores.

A view of debris scattered in the area. Pic: Karolina Knepaite

Eoin Hayes, 26, said the explosion shook his entire apartment building.

He said he ran to the window and saw flames consuming one building and smoke rising into the air.

Broke glass covers the pavement. Pic: Marty Bacardi/@cashrfcnyc

"I was in my bedroom and the explosion went off, it kind of shook the whole building," Mr Hayes said. "You could feel the vibrations going through the building."

The FDNY says it has 39 units and nearly 170 personnel at the scene. The cause of the explosion was not immediately known.

Local electric and gas companies were shutting down service in the area.

Metro-North Railroad has suspended all commuter train service in the area. The train line runs along the scene of the collapse, and television footage showed some debris on the tracks.

More follows...

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