NEW YORK — An apparent gas leak caused a Manhattan apartment building to explode, injuring 20 people, four of them children who were critically burned, officials said.
The explosion blew out some of the 20-unit building's walls just after 3 p.m. CDT in upper Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood, witnesses said. Residents said they heard the explosion blocks away, followed by screams.
"It does appear to be a gas leak explosion that then causes a flash fire," said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta.
The injured included five people with serious burns, including the children, officials said. The others injured were in stable condition, fire officials said.
A firefighter was hurt by falling debris when he entered the first floor of the five-story building, Scoppetta said.
The local utility, Consolidated Edison, had no immediate evidence of a leak, but investigators were waiting until the building was stabilized before going into the apartment where the explosion occurred, spokesman D. Joy Faber said.
Front Section, Pages 7 on 10/07/2007