by MICHAEL FRAZIER
The natural gas lines, meters and switches at a Harlem building rattled by an afternoon blast showed no evidence of any leaks, Consolidated Edison said Sunday.
The tests for gas leaks were performed Sunday at the five-story, 20-unit building at 10 W. 119th St., the utility said. The inspections included gas lines leading to the building and the apartment where the blast originated Saturday.
"We found no evidence of a gas leak," said Alfonso Quiroz, a spokesman for Con Ed.
Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta had said a gas leak in a first-floor apartment caused the explosion that sent 24 people to the hospital, including four young sisters.
Tony Sclafani, a spokesperson for the fire department, said yesterday that the "source of the explosion was natural gas, which fire marshals believe leaked from a flexible hose connection behind the stove" in the apartment.
The Alghaithi sisters were transferred Saturday night from the burn unit of Harlem Hospital Center to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan. The sisters -- Duaa, 5; Twka, 4; Lina, 2; and Afaf, 15 months -- were listed yesterday in critical condition, said hospital spokesman John Rodgers.
The girls' mother, Alouf Hassnin, 29, was also injured in the blast and was listed in critical condition yesterday at the hospital, Rodgers said.
The explosion occurred just after 4 p.m. at the building, which has been evacuated. A vacate order remained in effect as a precaution, said Robin Brooks, a spokesman for the Department of Buildings.
Plans to make repairs to a load-bearing wall were under way yesterday, Brooks said, adding that the building "is not at risk of collapse."
A fire official said yesterday that the investigation is ongoing. Scoppetta was unavailable for comment.
The building was purchased in 1997 by NEP West 119th Street LP, according to Department of Finance records. Original plans for the building called for condos housing seven to 10 families, the records show.
The building owners could not be reached for comment.
Joanne Katz, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross of Greater New York, said the relief agency provided service, including food and shelter, for 22 people hours after the blast.
She said 30 hotel rooms have been set aside for the displaced residents, but said many will seek support from family and friends.
Emerson Clarridge contributed to this story, which was supplemented with an Associated Press report.
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