In photos: Explosion in NYC's East Village injures at Least 12, building collapses

A residential apartment building in New York's East Village neighborhood collapsed and was engulfed in flames along with a neighboring building today, injuring at least twelve people.

New York City Fire Department firefighters battle fire at the site of a residential apartment building collapse and fire in New York City's East Village neighborhood today, March 26, 2015.

The residential apartment building collapsed and was engulfed in flames along with a neighboring building in New York City's East Village neighborhood, injuring at least twelve people, at least three critically.

New York City Fire Department firefighters walk on 2nd Avenue towards the site of a residential apartment building collapse and fire in New York City's East Village neighborhood

Above, New York City Fire Department firefighters walk on 2nd Avenue towards the explosion site.

The New York Times quotes a New York Fire Department official as saying that preliminary indications are that some kind of gas explosion preceded the inferno.

"It was probably a gas thing, it looks like," said spokesperson Francis X. Gribbon. "But that's not confirmed."

Police officer wears a mask as he stands near the site where a residential apartment building collapsed and was engulfed in flames in New York City's East Village neighborhood

Firefighters battle fire at the site of a residential apartment building in New York City's East Village neighborhood

[ALL PHOTOS: REUTERS/Mike Segar]

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Map: NYT/Google