EAST VILLAGE — An explosion rocked a building on Second Avenue Thursday afternoon, sparking a fiery inferno that caused one of the buildings to collapse, authorities said.
New Yorkers on social media captured the dramatic scene as it unfolded.
#EastVillage pic.twitter.com/vWfueEnCG9
— Pav (@ProbablyPavesh) March 26, 2015East Village explosion before the fire started or FDNY showed up. #eastvillage
A video posted by Jimmy Z (@jimmyjz) on
Scary afternoon in the #EastVillage sending lots of love and prayers to everyone involved #FDNY #NYC
A photo posted by Heather Marks (@heatherdmarks) on
A photo posted by Erica (@air_ic_uh) on
Crazy explosion on 7 and 2nd east village #fire #explosion pic.twitter.com/U3Z4mx3Wut
— J K (@Jamie_S_Kennedy) March 26, 2015#eastvillage @evgrieve video from Daniel Berkowitz via NY1. Building collapsed.
A video posted by Action Cat (@acti0ncat) on
Okay. I've uploaded some video. http://t.co/5IC7q7xQ1c
— Scott Westerfeld (@ScottWesterfeld) March 26, 2015Whole building is in flames now. pic.twitter.com/U3zGUPqi86
— Scott Westerfeld (@ScottWesterfeld) March 26, 2015Major explosion on 2nd ave and 7th street. New Yorkers being awesome and helping this young lady get down! pic.twitter.com/YxGh2C68IP
— Niraj Desai (@nayramz) March 26, 2015A photo posted by Liz Saraceno (@lizess) on
The blast, which was consistent with a gas explosion, injured 12 people and left 4 in critical condition, officials said.
The intial explosion occurred at 121 Second Ave., near East Seventh Street, igniting a fire that spread to the adjacent buildings at 119 and 123 Second avenues, sources said.
The five-story building at 123 Second Ave. collapsed shortly after, while the other two five-story buildings remained fully engulfed in flames, sources said.
