Witness and officials said that the force of the explosion blew out windows on the sixth floor and shook a nearby apartment building. Seven employees were reportedly working inside the building’s science lab when one worker hit a gas main. Con Ed crews headed to the school to investigate.
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There is currently a hole in the side of the school and the sidewalk is littered with debris.
A spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “I’m happy to be alive”.
The explosion happened late last night at Manhattan in New York. Custodial workers in the building described the explosion. According to the New York Times, a gas line exploded during construction work, injuring three men, at least one of them critically. The third victim was injured more severely and was labeled in critical condition. The injured are presumed tonight to be construction workers.
All three were taken to the burn unit at Jacobi Medical Center, the FDNY said. “A very troubling evening for residents here in Marble Hill”. Witnesses and neighbors in the area reported the blast felt like an earthquake.
The mayor reportedly said that the building housed eight schools with over 4,000 students, but he couldn’t confirm if the damage would impact the start of school on Sept. 9.
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[ image courtesy of Pix 11 and the Daily News ].
