At least two people are said to be missing following the explosion which led to the collapse of three buildings in the East Village yesterday.
According to PIX11, Nicholas Figueroa was dining at Sushi Park, a restaurant inside one of the buildings, when the blast occurred yesterday afternoon. ABC New York reports that six people were missing as of last night, but four have been accounted for. PIX11 adds that the 23-year-old Figueroa and another individual have yet to be found.
In an update posted this morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio's office revealed that 20 civilians had been injured, including four who sustained critical injuries. In addition, four firefighters and an EMS worker were also hurt.
PIX11 also reports that de Blasio spoke on what likely caused the explosion:
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the blast appears to be tied to plumbing and gas work at the building that housed the sushi restaurant below and several residences above. A spokesman for Con Edison said it stopped plumbers working Thursday at 121 Second Ave. because they failed the utility’s inspection. About an hour later at 3:17 p.m., the building exploded. There is no record of calls reporting the smell of gas in the area, de Blasio said.
The precise cause remains unknown, and an investigation continues.
Update 3/27/15 (2:45 p.m.): Mayor de Blasio has updated the human impact to 22 injured, with four in critical condition and 18 with non-life threatening injuries. No fatalities have been recorded, but two people are still missing.
[via PIX11 and ABC New York]
