Explosion Rocks Building New York City | Buildings Collapse in Harlem Reaction // Breaking: Buildings collapse after massive explosion in Harlem, New York // East Harlem Building Explosion, Fire and Collapse | New York | Rocks | Collapses

New York City Police Department says one person has died after an explosion in an East Harlem apartment building that then collapsed.

Fifteen others escaped with minor injuries from the incident, which sent smoke billowing into the city sky.

Residents heard a blast in the five-storey building at 116th Street and Park Avenue before it caved in.

All train services in and out of Grand Central terminal have been halted following the incident near its tracks.

'Gas smell'
The New York fire department has elevated the incident to the highest threat level possible.

It announced it has dispatched 168 members from more than three dozen nearby fire stations to battle the blaze.

The local utility has been called to shut off the gas following the explosion, which damaged windows in the area, reports WABC TV.

Streets and pavements around the site were littered with broken glass from shattered windows, while witnesses reported the blast knocked goods off nearby store shelves.

Authorities in the area were said to be handing out medical masks to residents due to the thick white smoke at the scene.

A witness told the BBC "there was just a lot of panic" following the explosion.

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