Boiler blamed for New York blast

Part of a New York building collapsed today following a suspected boiler explosion, injuring more than 50 people.

Police – aware that any blast brings fears of a terrorist attack following September 11 – rapidly ruled out terror as the cause.

"It was a giant boom – a real giant boom," said Bill Beek, who lives nearby. "It sounded like an airplane crashing."

Several victims, at least one believed to be in serious condition, were taken to hospitals. Other victims, bloody and bandaged, sat on curbs waiting for transport.

There was no immediate report of any fatalities. Windows were blown out along the block in the Chelsea district of Manhattan.

Fire Department spokeswoman Amanda Schmidt said it appeared some type of explosion was the cause of the collapse. Preliminary police reports indicated there may have been a boiler explosion in the basement just before midday.

Scott Bonilla, a student at the nearby Apex Technical School, said he was inside the building when it began shaking.

"They told us to rush out of the building," he said. "There was like an explosion ... and I ran out of there."

Police said did not appear to be an act of terrorism.

"It was just a really loud noise," said Stuart Markowitz, who runs the school's education department. "Some of our windows did get blown out."

All students in the school were safely evacuated, he said. Initial reports that the collapse took place at the school itself were not true, he said.

Sid Dinsay, a spokesman for the city Office of Emergency Management, said the building had various commercial tenants including a sign company.

More than 100 firefighters were sent to the scene.