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

Earlier, 4 people were reported dead and 63 wounded. According to latest data, nine people are missing. The search and rescue operation continues.

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.