http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/am-collapse0710,0,2406567.sto
ry?coll=chi-newsbreaking-hed
 

Madison Avenue building collapses after explosion


By WIL CRUZ, LAUREN JOHNSTON and CHUCK BENNETT
Published July 10, 2006, 9:25 AM CDT



A building collapsed in Midtown Manhattan this morning, brought down by an
apparent explosion that sparked a blazing inferno and plumes of thick smoke
in the heart of the city, the New York City Fire Department said.

The four-story structure at 34 East 62nd Street came down around 8:40 a.m.,
a Fire Department spokeswoman said.The Fire Department so far has four
reported injuries. Two of the victims were transported to New York Hospital
while the other two were treated at the scene.

It was unclear if anyone was inside the building.

The blaze had intensified to five alarms around 10:20 a.m. with 44 units and
198 firefighters on the scene. Six injuries have been reported, including a
firefighter.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately known, but the White House
said there was no indication of terrorism. Television reports said people
were trapped inside, but fire officials did not immediately confirm that.

The power company Con Edison said they were on the scene at a building next
door -- responding to a report from a gas customer -- when the blast
occurred.

Con-Edison crews were seen after the blast barricading manholes and sending
teams down at the corner of Madison Avenue and 62nd Street.

Several streets in the affected area were closed, affecting city bus
service. The uptown M1, M2, M3, M4, M30, M66, M72 and Q32 bus lines were
diverted to Third Avenue from 56th Street to 65th Street. Subway service was
not affected.

Public records show that the building housed a doctor's and dental office.

The fire department was calling the collapse and fire a "major incident" and
witnesses on the scene described hearing a large explosion before the
collapse.

Yaakov Kermaier, 36, a resident in a building next door, said he was outside
when he heard "a deafening boom. I saw the whole building explode in front
of me."

"Everybody started running, nobody knew what was coming next," he said. His
nanny and newborn escaped from their next-door apartment unharmed.

TV host Larry King, who had been in his hotel room nearby, described the
explosion to CNN as sounding like a bomb and feeling like an earthquake.

"I've never heard a sound like that," King said.

Thad Milonas, 57, was operating a coffee cart across from the building when
he said the ground shook and the building came down.

"In a few seconds, finished," Milonas said. "The whole building collapsed."

Streets around the area were closed off to traffic as ambulances and rescue
units responded just before 9 a.m. Dozens of onlookers stood behind police
tape watching the smoke as it engulfed the Manhattan sky.

Wil Cruz is a Newsday staff writer. Lauren Johnston is an amNY.com staff
writer. The Associated Press contribued to this report. 





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