NEW YORK — After two bodies were pulled from the rubble of an apartment building collapse, authorities shifted their focus to the cause of the massive explosion and fire and investigated the possibility that someone might have improperly tapped a gas line serving one of the buildings.
''There's reason to believe so far that there may have been inappropriate tampering with the gas lines within the building, but until we get full evidence, we can't conclude that,'' Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday.
About half the site had been cleared by midday Monday, but investigators had not yet reached the cellar level where Thursday's explosion took place.
''When we reach the level of the gas piping, the way the debris is removed will change so that those who will investigate the mechanics of what happened will have access to that without it being torn apart,'' Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said.
The mayor's office said one victim has been identified as 23-year-old Nicholas Figueroa. The bowling alley worker was on a date at a restaurant when the blast and fire leveled three buildings.
Last August, utility workers discovered that the gas line to the restaurant had been illegally tapped, according to Consolidated Edison.