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New York explosion may have been caused by people accessing gas line New York explosion may have been caused by people accessing gas line
(about 17 hours later)
Someone may have improperly tapped a gas line before an explosion that leveled three New York apartment buildings and injured nearly two dozen people, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday, as firefighters soaked the still-smoldering buildings and police searched for at least two missing people.Someone may have improperly tapped a gas line before an explosion that leveled three New York apartment buildings and injured nearly two dozen people, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday, as firefighters soaked the still-smoldering buildings and police searched for at least two missing people.
De Blasio said there was a possibility that the gas line was “inappropriately accessed internally” by people in one of the destroyed buildings, but officials need to get access to its basement to explore it further. De Blasio said there was a possibility that the gas line was “inappropriately accessed internally” by people in one of the destroyed buildings, but officials need to get access to its basement to explore the matter further.
The number of people injured in Thursday’s blast rose from 19 to 22, with four critically injured. Police were searching for at least two people: Nicholas Figueroa, a bowling alley worker who had been on a date at a sushi restaurant in the building where the destruction was centered, and Moises Lucon, a worker there. Authorities also were exploring whether a third person might be unaccounted for, chief of detectives Robert Boyce said.The number of people injured in Thursday’s blast rose from 19 to 22, with four critically injured. Police were searching for at least two people: Nicholas Figueroa, a bowling alley worker who had been on a date at a sushi restaurant in the building where the destruction was centered, and Moises Lucon, a worker there. Authorities also were exploring whether a third person might be unaccounted for, chief of detectives Robert Boyce said.
Preliminary evidence suggests an explosion amid plumbing and gas work inside the building was to blame.Preliminary evidence suggests an explosion amid plumbing and gas work inside the building was to blame.
Inspectors with utility Consolidated Edison had been to the East Village building to check on ongoing work to upgrade gas service. The utility said the work didn’t pass inspection, so gas wasn’t introduced to the line, and inspectors gave instructions and left at around 2.45pm. Con Ed said inspectors didn’t smell any gas.Inspectors with utility Consolidated Edison had been to the East Village building to check on ongoing work to upgrade gas service. The utility said the work didn’t pass inspection, so gas wasn’t introduced to the line, and inspectors gave instructions and left at around 2.45pm. Con Ed said inspectors didn’t smell any gas.
But at around 3pm, the sushi restaurant owner smelled gas and called the landlord, who then called a general contractor, Boyce said. No one called 911 or Con Ed, however, de Blasio said.But at around 3pm, the sushi restaurant owner smelled gas and called the landlord, who then called a general contractor, Boyce said. No one called 911 or Con Ed, however, de Blasio said.
The contractor, Dilber Kukic, and the owner’s son went into the basement and opened a door, and then the explosion happened, burning their faces, Boyce said.The contractor, Dilber Kukic, and the owner’s son went into the basement and opened a door, and then the explosion happened, burning their faces, Boyce said.
The building had an existing gas line intended to serve the sushi restaurant; the work underway was to put in a bigger line to serve the entire building, Con Ed president Craig Ivey said. As for whether the apartments were getting gas from the existing line: “That’s a great question,” he said.The building had an existing gas line intended to serve the sushi restaurant; the work underway was to put in a bigger line to serve the entire building, Con Ed president Craig Ivey said. As for whether the apartments were getting gas from the existing line: “That’s a great question,” he said.
“We’ll have to find out, through the investigation, what’s going on there,” he said.“We’ll have to find out, through the investigation, what’s going on there,” he said.
Figueroa graduated from Buffalo State College in December with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in intelligence analysis. He has been working at Bowlmor Chelsea Piers for the past few months as a front desk attendant and laser tag attendant.Figueroa graduated from Buffalo State College in December with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in intelligence analysis. He has been working at Bowlmor Chelsea Piers for the past few months as a front desk attendant and laser tag attendant.
On Thursday night, Tyler Figueroa said his brother and his date were paying for their meal when the blast occurred. The date, who is in the hospital, remembers only stumbling outside before losing consciousness, Tyler Figueroa said.On Thursday night, Tyler Figueroa said his brother and his date were paying for their meal when the blast occurred. The date, who is in the hospital, remembers only stumbling outside before losing consciousness, Tyler Figueroa said.
“I just pray my brother shows up,” he said.“I just pray my brother shows up,” he said.
On Friday, firefighters used high-powered water towers to douse the wreckage, a giant wave of crumbled brick, twisted metal, splintered wood and bits of residents’ belongings. Rubble was still strewn across parked cars, and a menu from the sushi restaurant and other debris were scattered across the surrounding streets.On Friday, firefighters used high-powered water towers to douse the wreckage, a giant wave of crumbled brick, twisted metal, splintered wood and bits of residents’ belongings. Rubble was still strewn across parked cars, and a menu from the sushi restaurant and other debris were scattered across the surrounding streets.