BREAKING NEWS
MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: less than 1 minute ago
NEW YORK - A three-story building collapsed Monday in midtown Manhattan after an explosion and fire at the site, fire officials said.
Smoke rose high above the building, located on 62nd Street between Park and Madison avenues.
Fire crews were trying to douse the flames before entering the structure to search for victims.
The New York Fire Department described the collapse as a "major incident."
It was not immediately known if people had been inside the building.
Several streets around the area were closed off as firefighters rushed to the site.
Witnesses said they first heard an explosion before seeing smoke and flames.
The collapse happened shortly before 9 a.m. ET.
This report will be updated as information becomes available.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13801112/