1 Dead, 1 Missing In Borough Park Building Explosion [Video]

Investigators are still sifting through the wreckage of a deadly gas explosion that ripped through a Borough Park apartment building Saturday, leaving one woman dead and another unaccounted for.

Authorities believe that the missing woman’s attempt to uninstall a luxury stove may have sparked the blaze that engulfed 4206 13th Avenue, at 1:05pm, leaving the building with significant structural damage. Police have not yet located Milagros Figueroa, 48, a second floor tenant who was on the phone with her sister at the time of the explosion, reports ABC 7. Figueroa is the mother two teenage children who have been located and are safe, according to news reports.

Ligia Puello, 64, who lived on the building’s third floor, was in the stairwell at the time of the blast and did not survive, according to police.

In addition, a father and son, 34 and 9, were struck by the burning debris as they walked home from synagogue, and were taken to Methodist Hospital with leg injuries, according to the NYPD. A 27-year-old man was also take to Methodist with minor injuries to his legs. All are expected to recover.

Surveillance footage from a wine and liquor store across the street, released by CBS, shows the exact moment the building erupted into flames.

“The building was engulfed in flames. Everything was crumbling down,” witness Brigitte Martinez told CBS.

Five buildings on 13th Avenue have since been evacuated and at least two will have to be torn down due to structural instability. All the families who reside in the buildings have been registered with the Red Cross. A large section of the has been taped off to cars and pedestrians, according to reports.

Meanwhile, a service center to aid residents who lost their homes and belongings was open at P.S. 164 (4211 14th Avenue) for most of Sunday. Today, the service center has been moved to the Borough Park Library (1265 43rd Street) and will be open from 10am – 6pm.