No fatalities have been reported in the East Village fire, the mayor said.
With the cause of a fire and explosion that destroyed several buildings in Manhattan’s East Village on Thursday still under investigation, officials today began to stitch together details of events that preceded the blast.
The explosion reportedly occurred after the building’s owner and a contractor arrived to investigate the smell of gas reported by a restaurant owner in one of the buildings, police said, following a gas company inspection of a contractor’s work in a basement nearby.
In all, three buildings collapsed and a fourth building was seriously damaged, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio said, adding that the fire department is still actively fighting the fire. Though “the strong assumption is a gas explosion” was the cause, no final conclusion has been drawn, he added.
“There is a possibility here that the gas line was inappropriately accessed internally by people in the building,” DeBlasio said. “We don’t know enough yet, though, about the details of that.”
DeBlasio said investigators may not be able to determine any more until they clear the debris and access one of the destroyed buildings.
“There’s certainly a possibility of impropriety, but until we access the site we cannot get the next step,” he said. “Until we get into that basement and get the full picture, we will not be able to confirm [the explosion’s cause].”
Twenty-two people were injured, four critically, De Blasio said today. No fatalities have been reported, but two people remain unaccounted for.
Two of the most seriously injured victims were Michael Hrynenko, a building co-owner, and Dilber Kukic, a general contractor working at the site who helped carry Hrynenko away from the blast, police said. Both were being treated at New York Presbyterian Hospital’s burn unit.
The two men had earlier figured in events leading up to the blast, according to authorities.
Inspectors from the local power and gas company, Con Ed, arrived at the building at 2 p.m. Thursday to meet with the contractor to evaluate work being done by a plumber in the basement of one of the buildings, according to police. The work failed inspection.
After the inspectors left, the owner of the Sushi Park restaurant, located in one of the buildings, notified a building owner, Maria Hrynenko, mother of Michael Hrynenko, of a gas odor, according to police. Michael Hrynenko and Kukic met up at the location to investigate, and when they opened the side door of 119 Second Avenue, also known as 45 East 7th Street, there was an explosion, officials said.
Officials said Kukic was answering questions and helping with the investigation.
The Department of Buildings will be inspecting all of the surrounding buildings before they are re-inhabited, the mayor said.
The gas is shut off for the immediate surrounding area and air quality has returned to normal levels in the surrounding area.
“Once the debris is cleared and the fire is fully extinguished then we will do a full investigation and clean-up,” De Blasio said, adding that the full investigation will “take days.”
He noted repeatedly that people who detect the smell of gas should not investigate it themselves, but call the proper authorities immediately.
“It could have happened in any building,” the mayor said. “The important thing is for people to call 911 or Con Ed.”
ABC News’ Josh Margolin, Michael S. James and WABC-TV contributed to this report.
Trapped in a Skyscraper Blaze? Critical Steps to Protect Your Life
What Would You Do If Fire Trapped You 30 Floors Above Ground?
It starts like any ordinary day. Then—smoke creeps down the hallway. Alarms wail. You’re dozens of floors up, with fire spreading fast. There’s no easy way down, and no time to waste. High-rise fires may be rare, but when they happen, the consequences are often devastating.
Limited exits, fast-moving smoke, and dense populations make these emergencies uniquely perilous. Are most people truly prepared?
Why High-Rise Fires Are So Dangerous
1. Complicated Evacuations
Stairwells can become congested, and elevators are deadly during fires.
2. Rapid Smoke Spread
Smoke can flood floors through vents, elevator shafts, and stairwells—often faster than flames.
3. High Occupancy
Hundreds or thousands of people may be trying to escape at once.
4. Firefighting Challenges
Reaching upper floors is difficult, delaying suppression efforts and rescue operations.
What To Do If You’re Caught in a High-Rise Fire
Stay Calm and Assess Quickly
Panic wastes time. Find the nearest marked exit and leave immediately if safe to do so.
Never Use Elevators
They can malfunction or open directly into the fire.
Check Doors First
Touch the door with the back of your hand. If it’s hot, don’t open it.
Close Doors Behind You
This slows the spread of fire and smoke.
Stay Low
Smoke rises—crawl to stay beneath toxic fumes.
Cover Your Nose and Mouth
Use a damp cloth to help filter out smoke and irritants.
Follow Exit Signs
Leave belongings behind. Your life is the priority.
If You’re Trapped
Seal gaps with wet towels or clothing to block smoke entry.
Signal for help from a window using a flashlight or visible cloth.
Call emergency services, and clearly give your location.
Stay low and wait for help.
Preparation Saves Lives
Know your building’s escape plan.
Keep smoke alarms functional and tested.
Have a compact fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
Practice evacuation drills with your family or coworkers.
Lessons from Real Fires
Major high-rise fires in cities like Dubai, London, and New York show a clear pattern: people who stayed calm, avoided elevators, and followed emergency protocols had the highest survival rates.
Conclusion
High-rise fires are terrifying—but survivable. Awareness, preparation, and fast, clear-headed action can mean the difference between life and death. Don’t wait until the alarm sounds to figure out what you’d do. The time to plan is now.
No comments: