Remarkable Images of the Blast That Destroyed Two Buildings in Upper Manhattan
At least two people have died after an explosion destroyed two buildings in Upper Manhattan on Wednesday morning. Authorities suspect that the blast was caused by a gas leak. As the images below show, the damage was extensive, and the resultant plume of white smoke blanketed the neighborhood.
![140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-04 Heavy smoke pours from the debris at the site of a building collapse at Park Avenue and East 116th Street.](/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/03/140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-04.jpg.CROP.original-original.jpg)
Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images
![140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-01 View from the above the scene of the explosion and collapse.](/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/03/140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-01.jpg.CROP.thumbnail-small.jpg)
![140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-02 Firefighters from the Fire Department of New York respond to the five-alarm fire and building collapse.](/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/03/140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-02.jpg.CROP.original-original.jpg)
Photo by Justin Heiman/Getty Images
![140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-03 Was8407013A police spokesman told Agence France-Press that news of the explosion was called in at 9:34 a.m.](/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/03/140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-03.jpg.CROP.original-original.jpg)
Photo by Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
![140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-05 The area around the explosion was engulfed in a thick smoke, and a stretch of Park Avenue, as well as the east side of 115th to 117th streets, was closed.](/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/03/140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-05.jpg.CROP.original-original.jpg)
Photo by Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
![140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-06 New York City Police Department officers wear masks at the scene of the explosion.](/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/03/140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-06.jpg.CROP.original-original.jpg)
Photo by Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
![140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-07 Onlookers wear face masks as they watch from behind a barricade.](/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/03/140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-07.jpg.CROP.original-original.jpg)
Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images
![140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-08 A victim is evacuated by emergency personnel.](/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/03/140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-08.jpg.CROP.original-original.jpg)
Photo by Mike Segar/Reuters
![140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-09 Firefighters respond to the building collapse as a drone flies overheard.](/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/03/140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-09.jpg.CROP.original-original.jpg)
Photo by Justin Heiman/Getty Images
![140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-10 Residents watch as the Fire Department of New York searches for anyone trapped in the debris.](/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/03/140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-10.jpg.CROP.original-original.jpg)
Photo by Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
![140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-11 A firefighter stands on smoke-filled East 116th Street.](/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/03/140312_PHOTO_NYBuildingCollapse-11.jpg.CROP.original-original.jpg)
Photo by Mike Segar/Reuters