Rescuers work at the site of a collapsed building on Manhattan's East Side in New York, July 10, 2006. A four-story building collapsed in Manhattan on Monday after an explosion, the Fire Department said. (Xinhua Photo)

    NEW YORK, July 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 people were injured in an apparent gas blast, possibly triggered by a suicidal attempt, which brought down a four-story apartment building in Manhattan's Upper East Side Monday, city officials said.

    Authorities were investigating the possibility that the morning explosion was the result of a suicide attempt by Dr. Nicholas Bartha, the owner of the house. "We're still investigating that, talking about the potential for suicide. So that's a distinct possibility," Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said.

    Polly Passonneau, a lawyer for Bartha's wife, reportedly contacted police recently saying that her husband sent her an e-mail message, indicating he was contemplating suicide.

    The doctor was forced to sell the building because of the divorce, and authorities believe that the explosion may be related to a suicide attempt involving gas.

    Bartha, the only person inside when the blast occurred, was pulled from the rubble after communicating with authorities from his phone in the wreckage, Scoppetta said. He was among at least 15 injured, including 10 firefighters battling the blaze.

    Ten firefighters and five civilians, including two seriously injured, were treated at area hospitals and at the scene.

    The building housed Bartha's office and his apartment, in addition to another medical office, records show. The blaze had intensified to five alarms around 10:20 a.m. with 44 units and nearly 200 firefighters on the scene.

    The medical offices opened at 9 a.m., so there were likely no patients yet in the building when the blast occurred, said NYPD spokesman Lieutenant Gene White.

    Witnesses described hearing a large explosion before the collapse.

    "The building just blew up," said Yaakov Kermaier, 36, who was across the street from the explosion after returning from synagogue services.

    Several streets in the affected area were closed, affecting city bus service. Several uptown bus lines were diverted to other streets. Enditem

    Building collapses in New York City after explosion


              Related: Building collapses in explosion in New York

    NEW YORK, July 10 (Xinhua) -- A three-story building on Manhattan's East Side collapsed following an explosion on Monday, the Fire Department said.

    Heavy black smoke rose high above the building across Midtown and Manhattan's Upper East Side. Local media reported that people were trapped inside the building, but this was not immediately confirmed by fire officials.

    At least two people were under evaluation in hospital.

    The New York Fire Department received a call reporting the explosion at 8:40 a.m. (1340 GMT). Streets around the area were closed off to traffic as ambulances and rescue units responded just before 9 a.m. (1400 GMT).

    The cause of the explosion was still unknown. A Fire Department official said it "appeared to be a gas explosion."

    White House spokesman Tony Snow also said that the incident had not been an act of terrorism. "As far as we know at this point, no terrorism nexus."