Chinatown Explosion & Building Collapse Injures 12 [VIDEO & PHOTOS]
Twelve people were injured in a fire caused by an explosion that took place Thursday in a Chinatown building, according to ABC.
A building explosion resulted in a fire and partial building collapse in Chinatown shortly before 1 p.m. The explosion took place at 17 Pike Street in Chinatown. Conflicting reports state different numbers of injured people. Village Voice noted nine people, including two firefighters, were injured in the collapse and later taken to Beth Israel Hospital on E 17 St.
Crews are working to stabilize the building that collapsed, according to the news station. After the explosion, a small wall collapsed and there was a flash fire. Firefighters arrived at the scene within minutes and several people were rescued. The most seriously injured people were on the upper floors of the building.
An NBC photo shows smoke comes out of the building after the collapse.
Those injured suffered repertory burns and smoke inhalation. CBS noted they were rushed to three area hospitals, including Cornell and Bellevue Hospitals . The cause of the blast is unknown at time of publication.
FDNY added that the fire was under control as of 1:35 p.m. Robert Boyce of the FDNY said it was "a minor interior collapse; it wasn't a structual collapse." He noted there was a "decent amount of fire" on the first floor of the building.
The building, which appears in photos to have collapsed from the inside, houses a beauty salon.