New York.- The death toll from the Bronx explosion and the subsequent fire that partially destroyed a residential building in Norwood has risen to three, after emergency crews located two additional bodies in the rubble. Authorities continue their investigations to determine what caused the tragedy.
The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) confirmed that the second body was recovered on Friday afternoon, while a third victim was found on Saturday. Authorities had not officially released the identities of the deceased.
The recovery of the bodies could not be carried out immediately due to the deterioration of the structure. The fire left areas of the building in unstable conditions, which forced specialized teams to shore up different parts before allowing firefighters to re-enter to carry out search efforts.
Bronx Explosion
The incident occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5 at the five-story building located at 374 East 209th Street, between Decatur Avenue and Parkside Place. Firefighters arrived approximately three minutes after receiving reports of an explosion and found intense flames coming out of several windows.
The magnitude of the emergency forced the response to be raised to five alarms, mobilizing hundreds of members of the FDNY and other emergency agencies. Part of the structure suffered considerable damage as crews fought the fire and searched for residents who might have been trapped.
Initially, authorities confirmed one person dead and 14 injured, including civilians and members of the Fire Department. One of those affected remained hospitalized this weekend, according to updated information from the authorities.
The tragedy also left dozens of residents unable to return to their apartments. The Red Cross and municipal agencies began providing assistance to the displaced families while it is determined what will happen to the building and when they will be able to recover their belongings.
Bronx explosion victims
Before the two new bodies appeared, relatives of residents had reported that some people remained missing. A woman told NY1 that she believes one of the recovered victims could be her aunt, although the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner still had to perform the corresponding identifications.
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One of the main questions remains what caused the explosion that preceded the fire. Neighbors described hearing a loud bang before seeing the flames, but the FDNY keeps the investigation open and has not yet publicly established a definitive cause.
The authorities are investigating, among other possibilities, whether a gas leak could have been related to the explosion, although that hypothesis has not been officially confirmed. For that reason, specialists continue to examine the remains of the building and collect evidence before establishing responsibilities.
The Bronx explosion and subsequent fire have so far left a toll of three dead, 14 injured, and dozens of people displaced, while work among the rubble continues to be hampered by the fragility of the structure.
The case will remain under investigation until specialists determine the origin of the explosion and forensic authorities complete the official identification of the recovered individuals.
