Death toll climbs in New York gas blast

[malaise]

http://www.northjersey.com/news/ny_metro/Searchers_scour_rubble_after_gas_explosion_kills_6.html
<snip>
Rescuers working under generator-powered lights pulled three additional bodies overnight from the rubble of two Manhattan apartment buildings, raising the death toll to at least six from a gas leak-triggered explosion that reduced the area to a pile of smashed bricks, splinters and mangled metal.

The explosion Wednesday morning in East Harlem injured more than 60 people, with searchers still trying to locate others a day later. At the site on Park Avenue and 116th Street, thermal imaging cameras were being used to identify heat spots — bodies or pockets of fire.

Hunter College identified one victim as Griselde Camacho, a security officer who worked at the Silberman School of Social Work building. Hunter, in a statement on its website, said Comacho, 45, had worked for the college since 2008.

Also killed was Carmen Tanco, 67, a dental hygienist. Her cousin News 12 cameraman Angel Vargas said the family started a frantic search when she didn't show up for work Wednesday.

Police identified another victim as Rosaura Hernandez-Barrios, 21.

The bodies of three unidentified people also were found: a man pulled from the rubble just after midnight Wednesday; a woman found at about 2:50 a.m. Thursday; and a man discovered about a half-hour later.

[seveneyes]

1. Surprised there are not any gas detectors/alarms to warn people or auto cutoff gas feeds

All buildings should have an automatic shutoff for when detectors sense an explosive mix of gas anywhere in the building. Tragedy should not have to strike in these modern times before something is done to protect against it.

[malaise]

2. Some of these buildings are very old

and that's a problem

[bullwinkle428]

3. The gas line itself was *127 years old. Of course, we have plenty of money

to feed the war machine, but heaven forbid we spend a dime to repair crumbling infrastructure.

*Charlie Pierce pointed out that the gas line was installed during the FIRST Grover Cleveland administration!

[malaise]

4. +1,000

Won't be long before another bridge collapses but send a billion to Ukraine.