NY building collapses after apparent gas explosion

NEW YORK, July 10 (Reuters) A four-story building today collapsed in Manhattan morning after an apparent gas explosion, causing at least eight injuries, a frantic rescue operation and sending smoke billowing into the air.

The gas leak may have been the result of a suicide attempt, New York Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta told reporters on the scene, and the White House in Washington said the collapse was not related to an act of terrorism.

''There's a building that collapsed due to what appears to have been a gas explosion. ... It was sufficiently severe that it blew out the windows in the apartment building across the street,'' Scoppetta said.

''It may very well be ... a suicide attempt,'' he said.

A neighbor had reported the smell of gas before the explosion and fire, the gas utility reported.

One was man was taken out of the rubble on a stretcher and was in critical condition. Officials said he owned the building and suffered severe burns.

In addition five passers-by and two firefighters were injured, Scoppetta said.

Witnesses reported hearing what sounded like a very loud explosion and tremendous noise as the building came down.

Firefighters scrambled to remove debris and search for victims, doused the flames with water and inspected the damage from tower ladders.

''I saw a lot of smoke, people scurrying everywhere,'' CNN talk show host Larry King, who happened to be on the scene, told reporters. ''There was one huge boom. ... It sounded like a bombing would sound, like the bombing of London in World War Two.'' Local media said the apartment building on 62nd Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan housed a beauty salon and some doctors' offices. Police said the building collapsed before any patients were due for their morning appointments.

The Upper East Side is historically one of New York's most upscale neighborhoods with many luxury apartment buildings near Central Park.

Reuters SY DB2228