New York building explodes

Published 10:11 am Wednesday, March 12, 2014

NEW YORK — The New York City fire department says an East Harlem apartment building has exploded and collapsed. As of press this morning, crews reported 11 minor injuries.

WABC says residents heard a large explosion in an apartment building near Park Avenue and 116th Street around 9 a.m. Wednesday. The building was five stories and appeared to be reduced to rubble.

TV news footage shows billowing smoke and firefighters dousing the site from ladder trucks. Bricks also cover parked vehicles.

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The site is adjacent to Metro-North commuter railroad tracks, not far from the northeastern tip of Central Park. Metro-North says it has halted service to and from Grand Central Terminal.