By NICHOLAS NEGRON
Staff Writer
In East Harlem on March 12, 2014, a gas leak caused a massive explosion. This collapsed two five-story apartment buildings on Park Avenue. The leveled buildings contained 15 apartments and several businesses. Dark clouds of smoke and dust rose over this Manhattan residential area after a deafening noise woke up the neighborhood. At least 6 people were killed while over 63 were injured. Firefighters are still searching through the carnage. Among the dead is a Hunter College public safety officer. Thankfully, most injuries are not life-threatening.
There was barely a chance to warn the people in the building before the blast. A phone call was made to Con Ed about the gas leak at 9:13 a.m from a resident in one of the newer buildings on the avenue. A truck was sent out only two minutes after the phone call, still arriving after the explosion. According to the mayor, the only sign of danger was 15 minutes before the explosion. This horrific incident drew large crowds as workers began to break into pavement and concrete in order to shut down the gas lines.
“This is a tragedy of the worst kind, because there was no indication in time to save people…We’re expending every effort to locate each and every loved one…Hopefully we’ll find that some of them are in other parts of the city and have just not been located yet,” said Bill de Blasio, mayor of NYC, to reporters.
What used to be where the apartments stood are now huge piles of burnt debris. Bathtubs, couches, and walls have disintegrated on the pavement. The smoke is still heavy and thick as of March 13. Those who live in the general area or are passing by wear masks to protect themselves from any harmful chemicals in the air. The 1644 Park Ave. building is virtually nonexistent. The 1646 is extremely damaged.
While it is terrible there was not enough warning for this explosion, if the firefighters and Con Ed had arrived minutes earlier, they would also be on the list of casualties. Firefighters into the hundreds arrived after the blast to put out the large fire. Health officials have deemed the wreckage air to be free of asbestos. The mayor has still suggested children and senior citizens to avoid the area. Sixty-nine residents of the neighborhood were evacuated and spent the night at a Red Cross shelter.
Aside from apartments and businesses a Spanish Christian Church was destroyed on the ground floor of 1644 Park Avenue. This church had been 80 years old.
“Unsurprisingly, calls to 311 regarding smells of gas had nearly doubled since the blast…Typically, firefighters responded to 49 calls a day regarding gas. Yesterday, the FDNY received 90,” says NYC Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano, reported by The Daily News.
People should now start to inspect their own homes for any leaks, or pipes that need replacing. Fire detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be checked for efficiency. Sprinkler systems must work. This will not help those injured or those grieving as a result of this horrible incident, but one can never feel too safe in their own home.
