Alarming update in NYC blast: Utility workers found serious gas leaks back in August

Alarming update in NYC blast: Utility workers found serious gas leaks back in August

Con Edison said that an inspection last summer of one of the buildings that was destroyed found a "hazardous situation" where hoses were being clumsily used on the gas connection in what may have been an attempt to siphon off gas.

Utility workers who back in August inspected one of the buildings that had been destroyed in an explosion in Manhattan last week found a “hazardous situation” due to dangerous gas line connections, the utility company Con Edison said Saturday.

A crew had been sent into the building on Aug. 6 after a Con Edison worker who was reading the gas meters smelled gas, Con Edison spokesman Allan Drury said according to a Reuters report.

Last week, it would be the site of a massive explosion and fire and that would level three buildings in the East Village neighborhood, which resulted in the injuries of 22 people, including four critically, and two people who so far remain missing.

Investigators are still combing the site for clues and believe the basement will likely hold the reason for the blast, with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio saying on Friday it appeared that someone had “inappropriately” tapped the gas line.

Ground zero of the blast was a sushi restaurant, and the owner of the restaurant said that utility workers determined that someone was siphoning off gas to some apartments above his restaurant. Con Edison found multiple leaks in August due to hoses that had been clumsily connected to the gas line meant for the restaurant, so Con Edison shut off the gas for 10 days until they could make sure everything was safe.

Rescue crew were still going through the smoldering rubble with cadaver dogs trying to locate the two people who had not yet been found. A total of 11 buildings had been evacuated, including 144 apartments. The residents of those apartments may be able to return home today.

Con Edison workers had actually visited the site of the blast just an hour before the explosion, and they once again determined there was a problem, but this time they did not believe it to be a safety issue, according to the report.

The contractor was determined to be Dilber Kukic, who had been arrested back in February on accusations of bribing an investigator to dismiss violations. Kukic remained in the hospital.

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