Explosion at NYC building injures 17 people

An explosion at an apartment building in the Harlem neighborhood of New York hurt 17 people, including four children and a firefighter.

An explosion at an apartment building in the Harlem neighborhood of New York hurt 17 people, including four children and a firefighter, and spewed pieces of the building out onto the street, officials said.

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said a gas leak apparently caused the explosion on Saturday, although the local utility said it had no evidence of a leak.

The injured included four children, one who was critically hurt, and one infant, Scoppetta said. A firefighter was hurt when debris fell on him when he entered the first floor of the five-story building, Scoppetta said.

Residents said they heard the explosion blocks away and screams coming from the 20-unit building. Witnesses said the explosion blew out some of the building's walls.

Firefighters tossed pieces of drywall in a pile outside the building, while the injured were treated in stretchers on the street.