<p>A massive <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/reports-building-explodes-in-manhattans-east-village-2015-3">fire spread to 4 buildings, causing at least 2 to collapse</a> in Manhattan's East Village neighborhood Thursday afternoon.</p><p>The explosion appears to have started at 121 2nd Avenue and spread to 123 2nd Avenue, between 7th Street and St. Marks Place. Here's what it looked like down at the scene:</p><p>The area around the fire was shut down for several surrounding blocks.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/551473ef6bb3f77a655e9b10-1024-768/img23771024.png" border="0" alt="img_2377_1024"><p class="source"><span>Melia Robinson/Business Insider</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55147cec69bedd504d3654af-595-446/cbdnv3bumaaybfp-3.jpg" border="0" alt="CBDNV3BUMAAyBfP"><p class="source"><span>asdf</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5514746869bedd4c2c3654b1-1200-924/nyc-fire.jpg" border="0" alt="nyc fire"><p class="source"><span>Melia Robinson/Business Insider</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/551477caecad04cd4e199e4d-1022-766/nypd-people-manhattan-fire-smoke-building-collapse.jpg" border="0" alt="NYPD People Manhattan Fire Smoke Building Collapse"><p class="source"><span>Melia Robinson/Business Insider</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55147d266da8110a376909bb-737-553/building-collapse.png" border="0" alt="building collapse"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://7online.com/live/23376/">Eyewitness News</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>More than 200 firemen were called down to the fire.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/551472916bb3f7b9615e9b12-1200-924/fdny-building-fire-collapsejpg.jpg" border="0" alt="FDNY Building Fire Collapse.JPG"><p class="source"><span>Mike Chiaravalloti</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5514777b6bb3f7b5765e9b14-1022-766/nypd-fdny-emergency-fire-building-collapse.jpg" border="0" alt="NYPD FDNY Emergency Fire Building Collapse"><p class="source"><span>Melia Robinson/Business Insider</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/551474fdeab8ea763a69bd84-1200-924/nyc-fire-2.jpg" border="0" alt="nyc fire"><p class="source"><span>Melia Robinson/Business Insider</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Smoke completely enveloped the surrounding area.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/551476b4eab8ea3a4469bd85-1022-766/police-officer-nypd-smoke-mask-fire-building-collapse.jpg" border="0" alt="Police Officer NYPD Smoke Mask Fire Building Collapse"><p class="source"><span>Melia Robinson/Business Insider</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55147673eab8eac84169bd85-1022-766/smoke-fire-buildings-collapse.png" border="0" alt="Smoke Fire Buildings Collapse"><p class="source"><span>Sarah Schmalbruch/Business Insider</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/551478e169bedda93c3654b0-882-441/east village building collapse before after 2x1.png" border="0" alt="East Village Building Collapse Before After 2x1"><p class="source"><span>Melissa Stanger/Business Insider</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/going-clear-sundance-premiere-scientology-bombshells-2015-1">6 Crazy Things Revealed In HBO's Explosive New Scientology Documentary 'Going Clear'</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="o5dzJpczpndV8YG9M7cnoa3JXgQXBqja" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; 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Dramatic images of the massive fire and building collapse in Manhattan

A massive fire spread to 4 buildings, causing at least 2 to collapse in Manhattan's East Village neighborhood Thursday afternoon.The explosion appears to have started at 121 2nd Avenue and spread to 123 2nd Avenue, between 7th Street and St. Marks Place. Here's what it looked like down at the scene:The area around the fire was shut down for several surrounding blocks.Melia Robinson/Business InsiderasdfMelia Robinson/Business InsiderMelia Robinson/Business InsiderEyewitness NewsMore than 200 firemen were called down to the fire.Mike ChiaravallotiMelia Robinson/Business InsiderMelia Robinson/Business InsiderSmoke completely enveloped the surrounding area.Melia Robinson/Business InsiderSarah Schmalbruch/Business InsiderMelissa Stanger/Business Insider NOW WATCH: 6 Crazy Things Revealed In HBO's Explosive New Scientology Documentary 'Going Clear' if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; } RunFunctions.push(function() { var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'o5dzJpczpndV8YG9M7cnoa3JXgQXBqja',{ autoplay: 'false' }); }); Please enable Javascript to watch this video (function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }());

A massive fire spread to 4 buildings, causing at least 2 to collapse in Manhattan's East Village neighborhood Thursday afternoon. The explosion appears to have started at 121 2nd Avenue and spread to 123 2nd Avenue, between 7th Street and St.

Dramatic images of the massive fire and building collapse in Manhattan

Peter Jacobs

NOW WATCH: 6 Crazy Things Revealed In HBO's Explosive New Scientology Documentary 'Going Clear'