Woman killed in Queens explosion

(Sunnyside - WABC, November 22, 2007) (WABC) -- A gas leak caused a street-shaking explosion at a three-story home, killing one woman and temporarily forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes on the night before Thanksgiving, firefighters said.

A 69-year-old woman who lived in the home has died in the explosion on 41st Street in the Sunnyside section.

Was this explosion avoidable?

Eyewitness News reporter Jim Hoffer is looking for some answers.

This afternoon Con Edison crews searched for any additional gas leaks in the neighborhood where a gas explosion ripped through this Queens townhouse yesterday.

This Thanksgiving morning, the owner, 67-year-old Kunta Oza died at Weill Cornel Medical Center from extensive burns she suffered in the explosion which forced about 200 people from their homes.

"Loud explosion just bloom...one house most front of the blown out."

The fire department first arrived on the scene here in Sunnyside around 3:30 yesterday afternoon after getting a call from the homeowner about a gas leak. When Con Ed arrived, firefighters left the scene only to be called back by Con Ed crews. As the fire trucks arrived, an explosion tore through the house.

"We're all asking was this avoidable," said Councilman Eric Gioia.

This Queens Councilman who has been an outspoken critic of Con Ed says it took the utility far too long to realize the gas leak's severity.

"If the gas had gotten so bad that day that 911 was called and the fire dept showed up, what took so long to figure out this was a severe problem?" said Councilman Eric Gioia. "What took so long to evacuate the entire block, the block was not evacuated until the home exploded."

A Con Ed spokesman tells Eyewitness News that Con Ed crews "followed company procedure" explaining that families weren't evacuated right away because "crews were trying to find the source of the leak. If they thought there was a danger, they would have told residents to get out of the buildings."

Con Ed spent most of the day investigating what caused the gas main rupture below the street just few doors down from the explosion.

Con Ed has been busy lately investigating disasters such as the steam pipe explosion in midtown last summer and the 10-day Queens black out in 2006.

This time, one lawmaker says an independent investigation is needed.

"When Con Ed is potentially to blame for something, they won't do anything to accept responsibility," said city councilman Michael Gianaris. "They will point fingers and they'll pass the buck and if we allow them to tell us what happened here we make a huge mistake."

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