NEW YORK (AP) — An explosion at a New York City apartment building blew off a massive chimney that ran up the side of the high-rise, leaving residents to wait for clearance to return to their apartments as officials investigate what caused the blast.

A plume of dust covered the block in the aftermath of the explosion, which left a huge pile or bricks around the building's base and on a nearby playground. The building stood with a 20-story gash in its side.

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