In this photo provided by the NYPD Special Ops, smoke rises from the scene of a large fire and a partial building collapse in the East Village neighborhood of New York on Thursday, March 26. The seven-alarm fire in Manhattan's East Village drew firefighters from across the city. The blast appeared to be a "gas-related explosion," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
NYPD Special Ops/AP
Firefighters work the scene of a burning building after an explosion on March 26 on New York City's Second Avenue.
John Minchillo/AP
Flames can be seen coming from the building's roof.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
People climb down a fire escape at the scene of the explosion. Luca Babini, the iReporter who took this photo, said he was in his office less than a block away at the time of the blast. He said a man immediately climbed a fire escape in an attempt to rescue people. "I saw a lot of people lined up at the streets trying to help," he said.
Luca babini/CNN iReport
Firefighters and emergency workers gather near the scene of the fire.
EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ/AFP/Getty Images
The Empire State Building can be seen through the smoke caused by the fire.
John Moore/Getty Images
Smoke billows as firefighters fill the street below.
John Minchillo/AP
The building includes both apartments and businesses.
Courtesy Henry Lihn
Firefighters fill the street as they work to extinguish the blaze.
JUSTIN LANE/EPA
Fire can be seen enveloping much of the building in this image taken from Instagram.
From maggielines/Instagram
The collapsed first floor appeared to house a Japanese restaurant; the building next door, with a shop specializing in French fries on the street level, was ablaze and appeared to have collapsed.
JUSTIN LANE/EPA
Firefighters work to put out the flames.
JUSTIN LANE/EPA
Smoke rises following the explosion.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Smoke obscures the New York skyline as firefighters battle the blaze.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
The official Twitter account of the city's fire department described the incident as a "major building collapse."