Newsday

The explosion at 10 W. 119th St., near Marcus Garvey Memorial Park, was caused by a gas leak and forced the evacuation of dozens of residents, including those in neighboring buildings.

One of the children was in critical condition, while the other three were seriously injured. All those injured, including one firefighter with a minor injury, were taken to Harlem Hospital Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center and Metropolitan Hospital Center.

While initial reports indicated that there was a methamphetamine lab in the building, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said they were unfounded.

"There is no evidence now that there was any illegal activity," Scoppetta said.

D. Joy Faber, a spokeswoman for Consolidated Edison, said crews shut off the gas to the building after the explosion and were working with city officials to determine the cause of the blast.

The explosion, which people heard blocks away, occurred just after 4 p.m. in a first-floor apartment in the back of the five-story, 20-unit building, Scoppetta said.

The force blew out windows on the first, second and third floors, filling the street with broken glass. A 7-foot pile of wallboard that was pulled out of the building lay on the sidewalk.

Victor Albino was cutting a customer's hair across the street at the International Barber Shop when he heard the explosion.

"There was a boom that shook the windows," said Albino, 33, of the Bronx.

He ran to the building and pushed his way in when he heard screaming.

"The explosion was so bad," he said, "all the furniture and beds were against the door."

Once inside, Albino said he saw about a dozen people who were burned and bleeding. Somebody was running naked; others were in their underwear.

When he saw a boy and a girl, each about 7 years old, he helped them get out of the building safely, he said.

"A lot of people were in shock," he said.

Ndeye Ndiaye, who has lived in the building about a year, said the impact caused her air conditioner to fall out of her fifth-floor window.

"I saw smoke and smelled gas, and I [went] outside," she said.

After officials from the city Department of Buildings inspected the building and the ones on either side, only residents of 12 W. 119th St. were allowed to return.

Joanne Katz, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross of Greater New York, said she was expecting about 32 families to be displaced. The group set up a reception area at PS 149, where it would hand out vouchers for food and housing, she said.