NEW YORK (CNN) -- An explosion and fire leveled a residential building on New York's Upper East Side and injured five people Monday morning, fire officials and eyewitness told CNN. The cause appeared to be a gas explosion, New York Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta told CNN. Two people were taken to the hospital and two others treated on the scene, according to New York Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi. (Watch father recount baby's rescue -- 2:40) One firefighter was taken to the hospital with neck and back injuries, Scoppetta said. (Map) Firefighters rescued one victim from inside the building with what appeared to be serious injuries. He was identified as Nicholas Bartha. Fire Department officials said their best information so far indicates Bartha was the owner of the building, a doctor who had his offices there and lived on the upper floors. Firefighters continued to search the rubble for victims, but officials hoped that Bartha might have been the only person inside. Scoppetta said the other injured people taken to the hospital appeared to be pedestrians who were walking past the building when it exploded. (Watch scene as CNN's Larry King describes what "sounded like an earthquake" -- 2:16) Ann McGovern, a neighbor across the street from the three-story E. 62nd Street location, told CNN she "witnessed two bloody people exiting the building just minutes after the explosion." The building was between taller structures on 62nd Street between Park and Madison avenues just a few blocks from Central Park. Smoke from the fire could be seen across Midtown and Manhattan's Upper East Side. As it cleared, firefighters moved in to assess the damage and look for victims. White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said there is no suspicion of terrorism in the explosion. The New York Fire Department received a call reporting the explosion at 8:40 a.m., department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi said. CNN's Larry King was in a hotel nearby at the time of the explosion. He said it felt like an earthquake. "I've never heard a sound like that," King said. Real the full story HERE
yeh, I heard about this. said the guy inside was trying to commit suicide or something. and that it most likely was not an act of terrorists.
Yep.. I didnt really give a crap...why?..they kept goin on the commercial "an explosion in New York goes of leaving a 4-story building collapsed, more tonight at 6" ---- you, if its that important you tell me NOW! Not at six dammit!
