Investigators probe report of building collapse in Manhattan.

[Roon]

Breaking on http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

[electron_blue]

1. NYT says building "explodes and collapses" hmmmmmmm

[cal04]

2. 1010 wins updated

Television reports said people were trapped inside, but fire officials did not immediately confirm that.

Heavy black smoke rose high above the building, wedged between taller structures on 62nd Street between Park and Madison Avenues just a few blocks from Central Park. Damage, including shattered windows, could be seen at one of the adjoining buildings.

Yaakov Kermaier, 36, a resident in a building next door, said he was outside when he heard ``a deafening boom. I saw the whole building explode in front of me.''

``Everybody started running, nobody knew what was coming next,'' he said. His nanny and newborn escaped from their next-door apartment unharmed.

Public records show that the building housed a doctor's and dental office.

http://www.1010wins.com/pages/54605.php

I hope they get everyone out safely

[htuttle]

3. What sort of area is that? Commercial, residential?

Madison Ave and Park Avenue sound expensive to me, but I know nothing about New York but what I see on the teevee.

[Drum]

5. That IS expensive.

Wish I knew more specificlly. I'm 40 blocks uptown and to the West, so cannot see or hear anything (turning on the telly now.) I wish they'd be more specific than just saying "building"---in that area it could be anywhere from 6 to 30 stories tall, offices or residences....

[AngryAmish]

6. My aunt and uncle live right there

Thankfully they are in Ireland right now.

[UpInArms]

8. "three- or four-floor apartment building with some doctor's offices"

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-07-10T131954Z_01_N10334591_RTRIDST_0_USA-EXPLOSION-URGENT.XML

NEW YORK, July 10 (Reuters) - A building collapsed in Manhattan on Monday morning after what may have been an explosion, media and officials said.

"It appears to be an explosion, but it's not confirmed," a Fire Department spokeswoman said.

Local media reported it was a three- or four-floor apartment building with some doctor's offices on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Could it have been "an abortion clinic"?

I'm not saying that it was, but it does sound suspicious. :eyes:

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. Very expensive

I went to HS a few blocks from there.

Could be the boiler. They do blow up occasionally.

Or could be something else?

[terip64]

4. Itried to access this story from CNN.com and I was brought to CNNpipeline

Which I would have to pay for. Are they crazy, do they really think that people are going to pay for their 'news'? I emailed them and asked them just that. Stupid is as stupid does. Man

[MaineDem]

7. Building contained medical offices

According to WCBS live broadcast.

Live pics show something still burning. COuld possibly be a gas main break.

[MaineDem]

9. Next to a popular Republican club

The Links (Lynx?) Club which WNBC reporter just said is a popular hangout for Republicans.

Someone just said they think the site of the explosion was a parking garage for the next-door luxury apartment building (Cumberland House.)

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Doctor's offices and a beauty salon

Maybe someone dumped a cigarette in their nail polish remover?


Heavy black smoke rose high above the building, wedged between taller structures on 62nd Street between Park and Madison avenues. Damage, including shattered windows, could be seen at one of the adjoining buildings.

The building reportedly housed a doctor's office and a beauty salon.

Streets around the area were closed off to traffic as ambulances and rescue units responded just before 9 a.m.

Witnesses told reporters that they heard a loud explosion, but it wasn't clear whether it was before or after the fire started.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/10/nyregion/10cnd-blast.html?hp&ex=1152590400&en=2756d46347201da8&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Ian David]

12. Doctors office... abortion clinic? n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

27. Probably not

The MD's that can afford the rent on E 62nd Street are not doing abortions.

[mcscajun]

43. If they are, they're certainly not doing them in that neighborhood

Donating their time to a clinic elsewhere, maybe.

[kestrel91316]

58. A private practice OB-GYN could very well be doing early abortions

in the office and virtually no one would know. It's perfectly legal, and it's part of what they are trained to do.

They're not required to do D&Cs at a publically accessible and well-known "abortion clinic".

[NashVegas]

64. Rich Women Don't Go to Planned Parenthood

They go to discreet doctors' offices.

[DoYouEverWonder]

67. Neither do their MD's

become targets for Right to Lifers.

[UpInArms]

13. Reuters: New York building collapse not terrorism-WHouse

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-07-10T135026Z_01_WAT006019_RTRIDST_0_USA-EXPLOSION-WHITEHOUSE-URGENT.XML

WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) - A building collapse in New York was not related to an act of terrorism, the White House said on Monday.

"As far as we know at this point, no terrorism nexus," White House spokesman Tony Snow said. The building and some neighboring buildings were evacuated, with "no reported injuries," although there were press reports of people trapped in the rubble, he said.

and Flight 587 just fell from the sky :eyes:

[DoYouEverWonder]

29. It took five days for the WH to respond to Katrina

but a building collapses on the Upper East Side and they've got an instant response and have already ruled out terrorism. Amazing.

[UpInArms]

30. it truly is "amazing" that they "know" this and respond when

they denied for days that the was a problem in NOLA.

:nuke:

[tn-guy]

49. Calm down a little

Note the first few words, "As far as we know". That implies to me that nothing has been ruled out and nothing has been ruled in, but rather, we don't know much one way or the other.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

59. Then why did they respond at all

Since they had nothing to offer, and had presumably not done any investigation? Empty words.

[tn-guy]

78. One possible reason......

....someone (member of the press) asked a question at the daily press briefing - something like, "Does the government suspect terrorism is behind this?" I know it's a wild theory but it may explain why they responded.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

79. lol

duh. I had assumed they rushed in without being asked. See what happens when one assumes?

[tn-guy]

82. Happens to all of us.........peace

[unblock]

14. that's just a few blocks from me!

[unblock]

48. i'm hearing it was a failed suicide attempt?!?

:shrug:

[DoYouEverWonder]

51. "Failed"?

Seems like an overwhelming success. Of course, if the dude lived through it you could call it a 'failed' attempt.

[Posteritatis]

65. That seems to be the case (n/t)

[ronnykmarshall]

68. No deaths are reported.

So who ever tried to kill themself didn't give a damn about other people or their homes. How nice.

[DoYouEverWonder]

73. So does this guy qualify

has a 'suicide' bomber?

[Marie26]

75. Looks like he did

"One of the injured was the doctor who owned the building. Fire Department Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said officials suspect the doctor, who was in critical condition, might have caused a natural gas leak in a suicide attempt."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13801112/

[ronnykmarshall]

66. I read that too.

People reported smelling gas.

[unda cova brutha]

77. he was porbally sick of living in *'s America and decided to end it.

[hippiechick]

15. MSNBC: Building collapses in N.Y. City

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13801112/


NEW YORK - A three-story building collapsed Monday in midtown Manhattan after an explosion and fire at the site, fire officials said.

Smoke rose high above the building, located on 62nd Street between Park and Madison avenues.

Fire crews were trying to douse the flames before entering the structure to search for victims.

The New York Fire Department described the collapse as a "major incident."

It was not immediately known if people had been inside the building.

[ixion]

16. did it collapse straight down in it's footprint at near free fall speed?

apparently that happens alot in NYC.

[Roland99]

17. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2379844

[izzie]

18. Made mw think of the one that went down when the students

were making the bombs. Was that in the Vietnam days? I do not recall when it was but the pictures sure stayed with me.

[brooklynite]

19. More details from WINS radio

...snip...

Heavy black smoke rose high above the building, wedged between taller structures on 62nd Street between Park and Madison Avenues just a few blocks from Central Park. Damage, including shattered windows, could be seen at one of the adjoining buildings.

The building reportedly housed a doctor's office and a beauty salon.

Yaakov Kermaier, 36, a resident in a building next door, said he was outside when he heard ``a deafening boom. I saw the whole building explode in front of me.''

...snip...

TV host Larry King, who had been in his hotel room nearby, described the explosion to CNN as sounding like a bomb and feeling like an earthquake.

http://www.1010wins.com/pages/54605.php

[RCinBrooklyn]

22. Someone wanted someone dead. I'm betting it is a hit on someone.

[INDIA]

37. I'm betting you're wrong n/t

[mirandapriestly]

42. How do you know?

[INDIA]

45. Killing someone by blowing up an entire building?

That doesn't seem a teensy bit far fetched to you? Of course I don't KNOW, but if I could put money on it, I would BET that the post above is wrong, resulting in my post. Clear enough for you?

[brooklynite]

23. Local radio now reporting a possible gas leak...

http://newsradio88.com/pages/54601.php#

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. Doctor offices in the building.

Anyone know if abortions are performed on premises? White House says it's not terrorist related, but that wouldn't be entirely true if the Republican Right strikes again.

[havocmom]

21. Very good question

[heliarc]

44. Or for that matter...

If one of the doctors inside the building was performing the autopsy on Ken Lay... I know I know. It'd make a good story though.

[Caution]

24. Amazing how quickly the tinfoil hatters come out of the woodwork

[VirginiaDem]

26. Yep, immediate wasn't it? n/t

[Lance_Boyle]

28. 'Let Con Edison take the blame'

They actually *are* resposible for not-infrequent-enough booms in the tri-state area - maybe this is one of theirs. :shrug:

[UpInArms]

31. a healthy dose of skepticism -

why is the WH already in on the denials?

How long did it take the Dept of Homeland Security to recognize there was trouble in NOLA?

But the "nothing to see here" has already been issued.

Go back to sleep, Caution, I'd hate to disturb your nap.

[RCinBrooklyn]

25. This is the 2nd wealthiest zipcode in NYC after TriBeCa. Poor millionaires

[skooooo]

32. millionaires bleed too

Hardly a time to gloat, imo

[Pachamama]

46. My best friend from College lives and works in this area! And no, she is

not a "millionaire"....

WTF was this post of yours supposed to mean? Even if you had posted a "sarcasm" graphic, it isn't too funny...whether its the wealthiest or poorest of zip codes, anytime there may be human lives involved, this is awful!

[ronnykmarshall]

72. I live in 90069

and it's a pretty well to do zip.

I guess that makes me pond scum as well.

[darkism]

61. Just another "hate the rich" post.

There are plenty of rich humanitarians and, conversely, plenty of poor assholes.

[ronnykmarshall]

71. My best friend is moving to the Upper West Side.

If his building blows up, should I not give a fuck?

FYI - He's FAR from rich.

[sabra]

33. Reuters: Gas blast apparently collapsed building-NY official

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N10347249.htm

[Human Torch]

34. New York building collapses, burns

Monday, July 10, 2006; Posted: 10:27 a.m. EDT (14:27 GMT)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/10/building.collapse/index.html

NEW YORK (CNN) -- An explosion and fire leveled a residential building on New York's Upper East Side Monday morning, fire officials and eyewitnesses told CNN.

New York Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta told CNN the cause appeared to be a gas explosion.

Two people were transported to the hospital and two others treated on the scene, according to New York Fire Dept. spokeswoman Emily Rahimi.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital on a stretcher, CNN personnel on the scene report.

[geomon666]

35. It was a controlled demolition.

First. :)

[Rhiannon12866]

36. Just got this story in an e-mail alert, from the Chicago Tribune...

This sounds serious.:-(

Madison Avenue building collapses after explosion

By WIL CRUZ, LAUREN JOHNSTON and CHUCK BENNETT
Published July 10, 2006, 9:25 AM CDT

A building collapsed in Midtown Manhattan this morning, brought down by an apparent explosion that sparked a blazing inferno and plumes of thick smoke in the heart of the city, the New York City Fire Department said.

The four-story structure at 34 East 62nd Street came down around 8:40 a.m., a Fire Department spokeswoman said.

The Fire Department so far has four reported injuries. Two of the victims were transported to New York Hospital while the other two were treated at the scene.

It was unclear if anyone was inside the building.

The four-alarm fire is still raging. Nearly 170 firefighters are at the scene trying to bring the blaze under control, the spokeswoman said.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately known, but the White House said there was no indication of terrorism. Television reports said people were trapped inside, but fire officials did not immediately confirm that.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/am-collapse0710,0,2406567.story?coll=chi-newsbreaking-hed

[cal04]

38. 1010 wins just said it was a gas explosion

"They think it was the gas line," Snow said. Power company Con Edison confirmed its crews had been responding to complaints from a gas customer at an adjacent building when the blast occurred.

[INDIA]

39. But...But...

I thought buildings couldn't collapse because of fire or explosion! All those conspiracy websites told me so! My tinfoil covered head is going to explode! :rofl:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

69. Old brick and mortar 3 story compared to modern Steel building

don't hurt yourself. :eyes:

[INDIA]

76. You're right!

It WAS a conspiracy! Thanks for steering me straight! LIHOP! MIHOP! :crazy:

[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Festivito]

40. Reuters: UPDATE 2... adds eyewitness reports. (not gas)

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-07-10T135935Z_01_N10341284_RTRIDST_0_USA-EXPLOSION-UPDATE-2-PICTURE.XML

"I saw the building collapse and there was a very big explosion," witness Theodore Milonas. "I believe -- I'm no expert -- that it was not a gas explosion."

....For what it's worth.

[mcscajun]

41. As the witness said, "I'm no expert."

The fire burned fiercely for more than an hour, despite the efforts of firefighters, suggesting there was an outside source of fuel.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/10/nyregion/10cnd-blast.html?hp&ex=1152590400&en=2756d46347201da8&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[ronnykmarshall]

70. Hmmmmm?

Does anyone know if any former WTC #7 workers lived in the building?

[onehandle]

47. Fire Chief Says Gas Explosion Caused Collapse-NYT Homepage. nt

[unblock]

50. i'm hearing failed suicide attempt ?!?!

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Norquist Nemesis]

53. Just saw 'Resident may have been attempting suicide' (CNN)

I have the mute on, but that's what the banner showed. :shrug:

[onenote]

54. thanks...appreciate it when a source is given rather than just "I heard"

[Finder]

57. It is being mentioned on all the news channels. n/t

[Marie26]

74. Yes, according to MSNBC

"Fire Department Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said officials suspect the doctor, who was in critical condition, might have caused a natural gas leak in a suicide attempt. "It is possible it is a suicide ," he told WNBC-TV.

Shortly before the blast, a utility crew had been in the building next door responding to a report of a natural gas smell.

A police official told The Associated Press that the lawyer for the doctor’s wife contacted police recently and said that she had received an e-mail from him in which the physician, 66-year-old Nicholas Bartha, indicated he was contemplating suicide.

He was going through a difficult divorce and was being forced to sell the building, and authorities believe the explosion may have be related to a suicide attempt, the police official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13801112/

[hang a left]

81. Crazy that a physician would use gas as a method

He could just shoot himself up with something.

[Marie26]

85. Maybe he wanted

to go out with a bang. Really. If he was doing this out of anger or bitterness, maybe he wanted to do something dramatic.

[unblock]

55. well that's a nice attitude

i have confidential sources who have walked past the scene on lunch break.
i don't know who they have talked to at the scene.

it could be just crowd rumors or they might have overheard the police or firefighters radio.

i am just at work, just a few blocks away.

[onenote]

56. then why not say that the first time?

[DoYouEverWonder]

62. I didn't have a problem

based on Unblock's other posts, figuring out that this is info he was getting from the street.

[Ian David]

60. North Korea responds by collapsing six Typodildo Buildings! n/t

[darkism]

63. Is that like teledildonics?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teledildonics :evilgrin:

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

83. Doc: "YOU WILL BE TRANSFORMED FROM GOLD DIGGER TO ASH & RUBBLE DIGGER"

Failed suicide going through bitter 5-year divorce, just lost a $4 million judgement in the case.

-snip-

In a petition filed this year, Cordula Bartha asked that deputies remove Nicholas Bartha from the residence. "I have no doubt that (he) will ensconce himself in the marital residence and refuse to leave it after the auction is held. He has said many times that he intends to 'die in my house.'"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060710/ap_on_re_us/building_collapse

[mcscajun]

84. More than suicide...he wanted to deny his wife any proceeds

from the sale of the house in their divorce settlement. This was a bitter man who wanted to destroy himself and leave his ex-wife nothing.

Bartha recently sent out a rambling e-mail to his wife in which he contemplated suicide, a police official with direct knowledge of the case told The Associated Press. The note read in part, "You will be transformed from gold digger to ash and rubble digger." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

The injured included five civilians and 10 firefighters. Bartha was pulled from the rubble after talking with authorities from his phone while buried in the wreckage, Fire Chief Nicholas Scoppetta said. Bartha and one passer-by suffered severe injuries; the others had minor injuries.

Bartha recently lost a $4 million judgment in the divorce case, and court records chronicle a nasty dispute that spanned five years.

In a petition filed this year, Cordula Bartha asked that deputies remove Nicholas Bartha from the residence. "I have no doubt that (he) will ensconce himself in the marital residence and refuse to leave it after the auction is held. He has said many times that he intends to 'die in my house.'"

http://www.forbes.com/business/services/feeds/ap/2006/07/10/ap2868972.html

My guess is that if he survives his injuries, he'll be looking at criminal charges, lawsuits, and his wife will probably get something from the insurance company. He'll lose on all counts and in every direction.