As firefighters continued to sift through the wreckage of the massive East Village explosion yesterday, photographer Scott Lynch homed in on the severely damaged cars that had been parked near the 2nd Avenue site.
Some cars sustained minor damage, but at least one vehicle was crushed beyond recognition, highlighting the annihilating force of a blast that crumbled three buildings, killed two people and injured dozens, four critically. Lynch spotted the above decimated minivan when police towed it to the Bowery south of St. Mark's Place.
Authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the explosion, which originated in the basement of now-collapsed 121 Second Avenue. Officials believe the building's landlord may have been illegally siphoning gas from the sushi restaurant downstairs to provide heat for the upstairs tenants, potentially sparking a gas leak.
