An explosion earlier today at Second Ave and E 7th in the East Village area of NYC set 3 buildings ablaze, causing one of them to collapse completely and another to partially collapse.

Authorities said that the blast was consistent with a gas explosion, and though Con Edison shut down gas service to the area, the utility’s spokesman Allan Drury can not yet confirm that it was indeed a gas leak that ignited it.

At least 12 people were injured in the blast, 7 of which were taken to the hospital, 4 of which are in critical condition.

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Source: DNA