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[music]
>> Hey guys, welcome back to sourcefed. I’m Trisha Hershberger and just after 9am EST
this morning a loud explosion was heard in Upper Manhattan, New York City., that was
so loud people heard it in New Jersey. Two buildings wedged next to each other, both
4 stories or higher, that housed a church, a piano store, and apartments in East Harlem
exploded and collapsed at 116th and Park Ave. The entire area is covered in smoke with firefighters
working hard to assess damage and make sure the nearby areas are safe. At least 16 people
were injured that we know of so far, 4 of whom are seriously injured, and one fatality
at this time.
>> The debris left by the buildings itself is about 2 stories tall and many nearby store
fronts and a church have shattered windows from the explosion. The Fire Department is
keeping residents and reporters away from the immediate area as much as possible while
they work to put out the fire. The wind is currently blowing the smoke and
debris to the west and will blow to the north later today so anyone in that area is encouraged
to wear masks to avoid inhaling it. The Metro in that area is also shut down and the ride
sharing service Uber is offering free rides above 106th to help out.
>> While no cause has been discovered, authorities are exploring the possibility of a gas explosion
after a call from a resident in a nearby building who reported smelling gas just minutes before
the explosion. There are many people, remembering the events of 9/11, who fear the possibility
that this may be an attack of some sort, but there is no evidence to support that at this
time. To follow the events as they are unfolding, both Manhattan and #EastHarlem are trending
on twitter with pictures, videos, and real time updates. Now this story will continue
to change and we’ll be updating you on the findings over at Sourcefed.com. I’m Trisha
Hershberger and our thoughts are with you, New York.