Horrific Explosion Rocks East Harlem

The dust is still settling in the horrible explosion at the East Harlem building, on Park Avenue off 116th Street, which occurred last Wednesday. It claimed the lives of 8 people and injured almost 70.

Catastrophic in its scale, it left the two five story buildings reduced to rubble. A significant number of residents of the destroyed buildings and their adjacent neighbors have been left displaced as a result of the explosion.

Mayor De Blasio has stated that the city shall make living arrangements for the people who have been displaced due to this tragic event. This announcement has come as relief for the affected victims.

Another heartening development following the disaster was the recovery of an old Bible from the rubble. Although it was singed at places, it was otherwise intact. The clergy men and the church’s pastor are looking at this as a sign that has strengthened their hopes of rebuilding the place.

Only a fraction of the debris from the collapsed buildings still remains. Rescue workers have succeeded in clearing the rubble from the site and as of Saturday, had reached the basement of the buildings.

The Explosion Is Being Investigated

Investigations are underway to find out the cause of the explosion. The Fire department, the Police, and the National Transportation Safety Board will each investigate to get to the root of the cause.

Though concrete proof of the fact remains to be found, there is widespread speculation that faulty gas lines may have been the cause. Nearby residents reported smelling gas, moments prior to the tragedy. Rescue workers too, found a high concentration of natural gas residue during the excavation.

Though truth will only become clear once the investigations have been carried out thoroughly, so far it seems that the gas mains may have been the culprit. The city’s gas piping system has often been the subject of criticism because it is said to be old and outdated.

The results of the ongoing investigations will reveal whether this was just one of those senseless tragedies that occur without any rhyme or reason or if the negligence of someone was to blame for this fiasco.

Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

In case it turns out that this disaster was the result of negligent behavior on the part of an agency or person, we urge the victims to seek legal counsel from a personal injury attorney.

In matters such as these, the guidance and experience of a personal injury lawyer may help you claim the compensation that is owed you so that you may overcome the loss and start the process of rebuilding.

Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives in this incident and we wish the injured victims a speedy recovery.