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East Village gas line dangerously, illegally tapped months before explosion

Two men remain missing, identified as Moises Locon and Nicholas Figueroa.

By Andrew V. Pestano

NEW YORK, March 29 (UPI) -- A gas line in a restaurant in one of the three East Village buildings in New York City destroyed by an explosion and fire was dangerously and illegally tapped months before the blaze.

On Aug. 6, utility workers responded to an emergency call by a restaurant owner, according to the New York Times.

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"We smelled gas, so we dialed 911," Hyeonil Kim, owner of Sushi Park, said.

The workers detected a "strong odor" of gas in the basement of 121 Second Avenue and found multiple leaks in hoses connected to the gas line, creating a "hazardous situation," according to Consolidated Edison spokesman Philip O'Brien.

Consolidated Edison, an energy company, shut off all gas to the building for about 10 days.

Multiple agencies, including the district attorney's office of Manhattan and New York's Department of Investigation, are looking into the explosion.

Two men remain missing, identified as Moises Locon, 26, and Nicholas Figueroa, 23. They were last seen inside the Sushi Park restaurant, which is believed to be the source of the explosion.

At least a dozen people were injured in Thursday's blast, four of them critically, and subsequent building collapse in New York's East Village.

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There was an explosion before the building fell around 3:20 p.m. at 7th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan.

The New York First Department was battling a fire at the scene.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said inspectors from the city's gas utility had been at the building about an hour before the explosion took place. While there, the inspectors found the gas work at the building was "unacceptable" and recommended changes.

Some 250 firefighters responded to the blaze from about 50 units.

At least a dozen people were injured in the blast, four of them critically. A law enforcement official said it's possible people may have been trapped by the blaze.

The building was mixed use, with apartments located above the restaurant in the five-story building.

Danielle Haynes contributed to this report.

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