Four-Story Manhattan Building Collapses After Apparent Gas Explosion; Injuries Reported

By Mary Mitchell

Published on July 10, 2006

The building, near Central Park in one of New York's most upscale neighborhoods, was leveled by a blast that also blew out the windows in a building across the street. A doctor who reportedly was the sole occupant of the building at the time was pulled from the rubble and taken to a local hospital, as were other people injured by the explosion or fire, including four firefighters.

The fire spread to two neighboring buildings but was quickly contained by the more than 100 firefighters who responded.

Fire officials stated that the explosion appeared to be the result of a gas leak. The New York utility company Con Ed reported that a neighbor had reported the smell of gas earlier that morning, and Con Ed employees were at the scene investigating shortly before the explosion.

New York Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta stated that the gas leak may have been the result of a suicide attempt. Authorities are investigating whether the doctor, who was reportedly going through a divorce and is the owner of the building, may have been suicidal.

Onlookers wondered whether the explosion could have been an act of terrorism, particularly in light of the neighborhood's proximity to the September 11th acts, but the White House quickly issued a statement clarifying that terrorism was not to blame.

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