NYC Building Collapse

A building blew up in the upper east-side of Manhattan this morning. It’s unclear how many people have been injured or killed. There’s lots of speculation right now regarding the cause. Some say it could be related to natural gas. On FOX someone floated the terrorism angle, although that seems highly unlikely. It is New York City after all, so that kind of worry is expected.

More from WNBC.

AP

UPDATE: UNBELIEVABLE!

At least 15 people were hurt after an apparent gas blast -- possibly triggered by a suicidal doctor going through a nasty divorce -- brought down a four-story Upper East Side building today, city officials said.

Authorities spent the day probing the possibility that the morning explosion at 34 East 62nd Street, between Madison and Park avenues, was the result of a suicide attempt by Dr. Nicholas Bartha. "We're still investigating that, talking about the potential for suicide. So that's a distinct possibility," Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said.

Paul Brown, chief spokesman for the NYPD, said Monday evening that the NYPD's arson unit is investigating the collapse as arson. "This incident is being investigated as a crime. But the individual has not been interviewed because he's been hospitalized."

Polly Passonneau, a lawyer for Bartha's wife, reportedly contacted police recently saying she had received an e-mail in which the physician indicated he was contemplating suicide.

A police official with direct knowledge of the case told The Associated Press that the rambling e-mail read: "When you read this ... your life will change forever. You deserve it. You will be transformed from gold digger to ash and rubbish digger. You always wanted me to sell the house. I always told you I will leave the house only if I am dead."

The 66-year-old doctor was being forced to sell the building because of the divorce, and authorities believe that the explosion may be related to a suicide attempt involving gas, officials said. Court records show that he faced a $4 million lien as a result of the case.

A true life “War of the Roses”. This, ladies and gentlemen, is pure, raw, selfishness.

It’s a good thing he lived. Death would have been such an easy way out for this guy. Now, assuming he survives, he can live the rest of his life reliving the moment when 70% of his body burned, all because he wanted to show his wife.