An explosion occurred at building on West 119th Street, right off Fifth Avenue and just south of Marcus Garvey Park, around 4PM. Several people were injured - WCBS 2 says that the injured include two babies and a firefighter who was helping people out of the building. Also: "Firefighters on the scene removed pieces of debris from the building's first floor while residents were being treated on stretchers on the street."
The situation was described as a "major collapse." It's unclear what caused the explosion in the occupied, five-story building.
WABC 7 has photographs at the scene.
Update: Newsday is reporting that this was a gas explosion at "an alleged illegal restaurant" and the bottom three floors of the building were blown out.
Update: CNN has word on the injuries: "One child was in critical condition and the three others were in serious condition, New York Fire Department Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said... All four had burn injuries. One of the injured is an infant. A firefighter was also injured, but was in stable condition Saturday evening. He apparently was struck by falling debris, Scoppetta said."
Photo by Frank Franklin / Associated Press.
