NEW YORK, USA (AP) — A massive explosion yesterday levelled two apartment buildings in New York City, killing at least two women, injuring more than 20 people and hurling debris and blowing out windows for several city blocks. A utility company said a resident in a nearby building reported smelling gas shortly before the blast.

More than a dozen people were missing, and two of those who were hurt had life-threatening injuries, fire officials said.

Smoke billowed above the city’s skyline, and sidewalks in Harlem were littered with broken glass from shattered storefront and apartment windows. Witnesses say the explosion was so powerful it knocked groceries off the shelves of nearby stores and sent people running into the streets.

“There’s nothing left,” said Eusebio Perez, 48, who lived in one of the buildings and rushed home from work as soon as he heard the news. “Just a bunch of bricks and wood.”

He added: “I only have what I’m wearing.”

The White House issued a statement offering “thoughts and prayers” and commending first responders. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio rushed to the scene and said some of those unaccounted for might have fled to safety. He said the city was working hard to locate them.

Police set up barricades and handed out masks to residents and onlookers to protect them from the thick, acrid smoke that shrouded the area. Those without masks held their hands or scarves over their faces.

“It felt like an earthquake had rattled my whole building,” said 24-year-old Waldemar Infante, a porter from a nearby residential building who was working in the basement when the explosion occurred. “There were glass shards everywhere on the ground, and all the stores had their windows blown out.”

A resident from a building next to the two that collapsed reported that he smelled gas inside his apartment, but thought the odour could be coming from outside, Con Edison spokesman Bob McGee said.

He said the utility dispatched two crews just after 9:15 am, but they arrived after the explosion. McGee said the street is served by an eight-inch low-pressure gas main, but would not speculate on whether a gas leak caused the explosion.