CBS News
Brooklyn basement explosion leaves at least 3 seriously injured, FDNY says
NEW YORK — At least three people were seriously injured in an explosion at a Brooklyn home Thursday night, fire officials said.
It happened at a two-story residence on East 37th Street between Farragut Road and Foster Avenue in Flatbush.
Police said they received multiple calls reporting an explosion in a basement around 8:30 p.m. About 20 New York City Fire Department units responded to the scene.
2 suffer burn injuries in Brooklyn basement explosion
FDNY Assistant Chief Tom Currao said when crews arrived, they found two victims outside and two victims on the top floor of the building. According to Currao, there was glass all over the street and obvious structural damage to the building.
“Quite a powerful explosion, ripped right through the dwelling, as well as caused significant damage to the rear of the dwelling,” Currao said.
Currao said three victims suffered serious injuries: two victims were taken to a local hospital with burn injuries and potential respiratory injuries, and a third victim was taken to a local hospital to be treated for cuts and contusions. A fourth victim was treated on the scene.
Officials concerned about stability of Brooklyn building after basement explosion
According to Currao, one of their primary concerns is the structural stability of the building.
“Very significant damage. Windows that were blown out. The back, the structural part of the building actually is damaged and blown out as well. Very significant type of explosion,” he said.
Currao said the two occupancies that are attached to the home where the explosion occurred have been evacuated as a precaution and gas has been shut off for four buildings on the block.
The fire chief also said they’ve requested the buildings department to investigate the integrity of the buildings as firefighters have identified concerns.
The cause of the explosion is unknown at this time. The fire marshal is on the scene to investigate.
Neighbors say they smelled gas after explosion
Neighbors told CBS News New York’s Ali Bauman they heard and felt a large bang, then smelled gas in the air.
“I heard a loud bang. I assumed it was a truck that hit the building, but I saw my neighbor’s front door in the middle of the sidewalk and that was time to get out of there,” one neighbor said.
“We rushed out of the house and we saw people starting to gather on the streets, and there was smoke coming from this direction. So as we ran to the house to see what was happening, that’s when we saw the two victims just staggering out of the house,” another neighbor said.
CBS News
Fears of wider war in Middle East grow after second wave of exploding devices in Lebanon
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
Eddie Vedder on the origin of Pearl Jam: “It was heaven”
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
United said Taylor Swift concerts drove 25% uptick in demand
United Airlines doesn’t have any bad blood with Taylor Swift, quite the contrary, as the pop star is driving up demand for its flights.
At a travel industry conference Wednesday, United said it has seen a 25% uptick in demand for flights on weekends during which Swift has held concerts abroad. Swift is having a similar effect on domestic travel too, Andrew Nocella, the airline’s EVP and chief commercial officer, added.
Swift is an economic force of her own, driving up spending and boosting the local economies wherever she performs. Market research firm QuestionPro estimated that all told, her Eras Tour could help add $5 billion to the global economy.
While United hasn’t added flights expressly for Swift’s concerts, at least one other airline has.
Budget carrier Southwest this summer said it was adding flights to accommodate strong demand for travel to Swift’s performances in Miami and New Orleans in October.
“Following strong demand from last year’s U.S. tour, the airline is adding more than 10 flights to its schedule to help Swifties get to and from her concerts,” the airline said in a statement to CBS News.
— CBS News’ Kathryn Krupnik contributed to this report