The explosion occurred near midday in a three-story rowhouse in the Longwood neighborhood. It sparked a two-alarm blaze that destroyed the home and damaged several others surrounding it.
The explosion was reportedly caused by a gas leak.
"Our hearts go out to the family members of the loss of life," New York Major Eric Adams said at a Tuesday press briefing. New York Fire Department Chief of Operations John Hodgens added that the building adjacent to the collapsed building had been heavily damaged and would also have to be demolished.
More than 100 fire and EMS crewmembers responded to the blaze, according to local media.
Eight injuries have been reported by local officials, four of which are residents and five are New York Police officers treated for smoke inhalation. A 77-year-old woman was pronounced dead at a local hospital, and two other women, aged 82 and 68, were also being treated but were reported as stable.
The blast was about five miles from where a January 9 fire caused by a malfunctioning space heater killed 17 people, including eight children. An investigation by BreakThrough News found that many safety measures in the building were nonfunctional or not reliable, including the fire alarms and self-closing fire safety doors intended to limit the spread of a fire. On Monday, the city agreed to pay $2 million in restitution to the families of the victims.