NEW YORK (AP) — An explosion has leveled two New York City apartment buildings, killing two people and injuring 17 others.

The New York Police Department says two females died in the East Harlem blast. No other information is available.

A utility company says a resident in a nearby building reported smelling gas shortly before the explosion Wednesday morning.

Con Edison spokesman Bob McGee says a resident from a building adjacent to the two that collapsed reported that he smelled gas inside his apartment, but thought the odor could be coming from outside.

He would not speculate on whether a gas leak caused the explosion.