BREAKING NEWS FROM NEW YORK 1:

Firefighters are on the scene of a major explosion on 62nd Street
between Park and Madison Avenues on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, which
is sending white plumes of smoke across the island.

The Fire Department was flooded with calls as far north as 66th
Street about a loud explosion followed by a building collapse just
before 9 a.m. Monday. The fire has since gone to five alarms and 138
firefighters have responded to the call.

It’s unclear if there are any victims trapped inside, but
firefighters appear to be searching the rubble for survivors. There are
reports there was a doctor’s office on the first floor of the three
story building and residences on the other two floors.

So far, four people are reportedly injured, two of whom were
treated at the scene and two of whom were transported to an area
hospital.

Con Edison is also on the scene and has turned off the gas and
electric service to the area, as is normal procedure and is conducting
an investigation to determine the source of the explosion. Witnesses
are reporting a strong odor of gas in the area, indicating that it
could have been a natural gas explosion.