What authorities think was a gas leak caused a major explosion at 121 2nd Avenue (near the corner of East 7th Street) in the East Village on Thursday, March 26, 2015, causing several injuries, destroying the building. By Thursday night, the FDNY had gotten the blaze under control but the front of the building still stood.
See also:
Explosion ‘Sounded Like a Summer Storm of Thunder’ Before Collapsing East Village Building