East Harlem residents buy up face masks due to air concerns

East Harlem residents stocked up on face masks Wednesday as debris and smoke filled the neighborhood with toxic air.

“The air is very bad — like the air at the World Trade Center after 9/11,” said Francisco Garcia, 21, who spent $300 on masks to give away in the area. “I’m just trying to do something nice for people,” the good Samaritan added.

Within 15 minutes, the Preferred Pharmacy at East 115th Street and Fifth Avenue, near the building explosion site at East 116th Street and Park Avenue, sold out its entire stock of face masks, as did other stores in the area.

This is the scene of devastation after a gas explosion destroyed two buildings and killed at least eight people in East Harlem Wednesday.Gregory P. Mango

Firefighters dig through the rubble in the aftermath of the horrible explosion Wednesday.Reuters

A van lies crushed by debris from the building collapse.Getty Images

Firefighters rush to the scene of an explosion that leveled two buildings in East Harlem Wednesday, killing at least eight people.AP

Heavy smoke pours from the wreckage.Getty Images

A first responder climbs over the wreckage of what was two buildings.AP

People run away from the scene of the explosion that destroyed two buildings in East Harlem Wednesday, killing at least eight people.AP

Firefighters put water on the burning wreckage after the deadly explosion.Getty Images

Police guide a bystander away from the scene of the burning wreckage. The explosion is believed to have been caused by a gas leak.AP

Firefighters stand on debris in the aftermath of a massive gas explosion that leveled two buildings in East Harlem Wednesday.Getty Images

A man carries his child away from the scene of the deadly explosion that destroyed two buildings in East Harlem Wednesday, killing at least eight people and injuring many more.INFphoto.com

A victim hurt in the gas explosion holds his head as he is transported from the scene of the deadly blast that leveled two buildings in East Harlem Wednesday.Warzer Jaff

Alicia Thomas, left, who lived in one of the two collapsed buildings, is comforted by her friend Shivon Dollar. Reuters

Firefighters remove a victim injured in the deadly blast in East Harlem Wednesday.Reuters

Huge plumes of smoke rise above the city in the aftermath of the explosion and fire in East Harlem Wednesday.Adnan Islam

A firefighter is seen on the roof (top right) amid clouds of smoke from the still-burning buildings after a huge explosion in East Harlem WednesdayGetty Images

Firefighters survey the scene following the explosion in East Harlem Wednesday.Getty Images

A firefighter directs the effort to extinguish the fire and search for survivors in the aftermath of an explosion in East Harlem.Getty Images

A van near the blast site is covered with debris from the deadly explosion in East Harlem.AP

The devastated buildings are seen behind clouds of smoke as firefighters try to extinguish the fire in the aftermath of the blast in East Harlem Wednesday.Getty Images

A victim is evacuated by emergency personnel near the Harlem building collapse. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said a major building explosion, which killed at least eight people in Upper Manhattan, appeared to be caused by a gas leak and other people were still missing.AP

A police officer wears a protective mask as he warns bystanders away from the scene of the building explosion Wednesday.EPA

A man shields his child in a blanket to protect against the smoke following the deadly building explosion in Harlem Wednesday.Reuters

A firefighter uses a flashlight against heavy smoke as rescuers search for victims in the aftermath of the building explosion in East Harlem Wednesday.Reuters

Police use protective masks to guard against smoke from the burning buildings.Splash News

Firefighters battle the blaze after a pair of buildings exploded in East Harlem Wednesday, killing at least eight people.Reuters

Firefighters use tower trucks to get water on the still-burning building from above. AP

Workers examine the train tracks as firefighters try to extinguish the blaze following an explosion that destroyed two buildings in East Harlem Wednesday, killing at least eight people.Reuters

Firefighters attack the fire from the roof of a neighboring building.Getty Images

Firefighters work to put out the smoldering wreckage. Getty Images

A worker walks along the Metro-North tracks strewn with debris from the explosion. Getty Images

Rescue workers remove an injured person on a stretcher after an explosion and building collapse in East Harlem Wednesday.AP

Mayor de Blasio said a cordoned-off area bordered by East 115th and 120th streets from Park to Madison avenues was being considered an air-quality concern.

The Health Department urged residents to reduce their exposure to smoke by staying indoors and keeping windows closed.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation was on scene, and said conditions were comparable to an apartment building fire.

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East Harlem residents buy up face masks due to air concerns

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