NEW YORK - An explosion rocked a heavily traveled section of Manhattan's East Village on Thursday in what officials called a possible building collapse.
Initial reports were of several injuries in the seven-alarm fire, a law enforcement source said. At least one injury is critical.
Some people may be trapped in the blaze, the source said.
The first two floors of a red-brick building at the scene appear to have crumbled, images from the scene showed.
Towering flames and plumes of black smoke were rising from the building, which includes both apartments and businesses.
Emergency personnel could be seen taking the injured away on stretchers. At least 200 firefighters were on the scene.
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The official FDNY Twitter account described it as a "major building collapse."
