NEW YORK, March 13. /ITAR-TASS/. The number of victims after an explosion of utility gas in New York that led to collapse of two 5-storey houses has reached 4, local media reported on Thursday.

Earlier it was reported about 3 dead and 64 wounded. Early on Wednesday, a gas leak occurred in one of the residential houses of Harlem in the northern part of Manhattan. The explosion almost completely destroyed the building and the adjoining residential house. 15 minutes before the tragedy, the New York-based Con Edison utility gas provider received several calls from locals reporting about strong gas smell.

According to latest reports, nine people remain missing. The search and rescue operation continues.