The New York Police Department responded to a reportedly large explosion that occurred in a building on E. 116th Street near Park Ave. in New York City Wednesday morning, according to FOX 5 News.
According to CBSNewYork, the FDNY says that the explosion — which occurred around 9 a.m. — resulted in a partial building collapse at the East Harlem address.
Televised images of the collapse, shot by FOX 5, showed smoke filling the streets while firefighters attempted to get the blaze under control.
The Daily Caller’s Will Rahn, on the scene in New York, reports that the surrounding streets filled with smoke Wednesday morning:
The scene right now on 115 and Park. Very smokey. pic.twitter.com/3GTyQjJ8cZ
— Will Rahn (@willrahn) March 12, 2014
Smoke starting to clear now in Harlem. pic.twitter.com/3YrZa4979I
— Will Rahn (@willrahn) March 12, 2014
Firefighters heading back in. pic.twitter.com/FEkVz7EpSU
— Will Rahn (@willrahn) March 12, 2014
New Yorkers crowd around the police line at 115 and Park. pic.twitter.com/iNVrQMSdmB
— Will Rahn (@willrahn) March 12, 2014
A building exploded in East Harlem, just around the block from where I live. #explosion116 pic.twitter.com/I8lIvsoocc
— Wilson (@wilsontarbox) March 12, 2014
Huge explosion uptown new york city near metro north train tracks close to 116th..#developing pic.twitter.com/uNZaFsRSKa
— Obi Okere (@obiokere) March 12, 2014
The destruction at the scene of that Harlem explosion pic.twitter.com/GtyDBjzXOh
— The Paw Print (@pawprintMJP) March 12, 2014
(Photo: Karolina Knepaite/Statigram)
CNN reports that utility company Con Ed received a call about a gas leak near the location shortly before the explosion.
At least 11 people were injured in the chaos, CNN reports.