New York: An explosion has leveled two New York City apartment buildings, killing two women and injuring 17.The New York Police Department says two women died in the Harlem blast.A utility company says a resident in a nearby building reported smelling gas shortly before the explosion Wednesday morning.Con Edison spokesman Bob McGee says a resident from a building next to the two that collapsed reported that he smelled gas inside his apartment, but thought the odor could be coming from outside.He would not speculate on whether a gas leak caused the explosion. Hayes said the fire consumed one building and then moved to the one next to it. Both buildings appeared to be residential. The explosion occurred very close to elevated Metro-North commuter railroad tracks. Train service was suspended to and from Grand Central on all three train lines while employees remove debris from the tracks.The fire department said it sent nearly 170 members to the scene.
Updated on: March 12, 2014 23:12 IST
