No Thai casualties reported in New York building gas explosion

BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Consulate General in New York City says that there were no Thai casualties found in a massive explosion at two residential buildings in Manhattan, New York, on Wednesday (local time). Thai Consul-General in New York Rasamee Chittham affirmed during a telephone interview with Thai News Agency (TNA) on Thursday, (Thailand's time), that there were no reports of Thai nationals being among the casualties, after the buildings in Manhattan’s East Harlem neighbourhood exploded and collapsed on Wednesday. The explosion, with a massive fire subsequently, destroyed two apartment buildings, killing at least three people and injuring about 60 others, while about nine others remained missing. The blaze was later brought under control, but firefighters had not yet been able search through debris inside the collapsed buildings because of darkness, trapped heat and heavy rain, and they decided to re-enter the buildings Thursday morning (local time). The Thai consul-general said that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio initially confirmed that the explosion was caused by a gas leak, not by terrorism as feared. The Royal Thai Consulate General in New York has, in the meantime, continued following updates of the incident closely. (TNA)