New york city: A fire in an apartment building in New York City has killed one person and injured more than a dozen. The fire was caused by a gas leak and occurred while the United States was experiencing extremely cold weather.

According to Thai News Agency, the incident took place in the early hours of Saturday morning at a 17-story apartment building in the Bronx. An explosion was heard about 15 minutes after emergency personnel arrived, followed by a fire that engulfed several apartments on the upper floors, as the fire originated on the 15th floor. Residents on lower floors attempted to call for help through windows and were evacuated to a nearby school. The fire resulted in one fatality and approximately 15 injuries. Authorities stated that the cause was a gas leak inside the apartment.

This incident occurred while the United States was experiencing cold weather and heavy snowfall across much of the country due to a passing winter storm. CenterPoint Energy, a US electricity and gas utility company, warned customers to watch for signs of gas leaks during the freezing weather, such as a strong odor, unusual noises, or dead plants in their rooms, and to immediately notify authorities if they suspect a gas leak.