Death Toll Rises in New York City Building Explosion

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2014-03-13

Five people are now confirmed dead in Wednesday's deadly building explosion in New York City's famous Harlem neighborhood.

Rescue crews worked past midnight searching through the rubble to locate nine other people who were still missing after a gas leak caused an explosion that leveled two apartment buildings. At least 63 people were injured.

Thick smoke from the buildings could be seen throughout much of Manhattan. The blast sent debris over several blocks across the neighborhood and a nearby commuter rail line, suspending train service in and out of Grand Central Station for much of the day.

Residents in a nearby building called officials at energy company Consolidated Edison to report the smell of natural gas just minutes before the explosion.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called the incident "a tragedy of the worst kind" because it happened with no time to save people.

Source: Voice of America

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