Reposted from CNY Central
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Hospital confirms that five people, including three children, remain in critical condition after a gas leak caused an explosion in a house on Carbon Street, leading to it collapsing.
Uncapped gas valve turned on, causing Syracuse house explosion that left 12 injured
Seven people have been released from the hospital, as members of the community held a prayer service for the victims this evening.
Prayers have been shared throughout the Central New York community, including at the Zakat Foundation in Syracuse, which helps refugees and new Americans.
Organizers of the foundation say more needs to be done for those coming to America, especially in housing.
Two families who fled civil war in Myanmar for a better life in America were struck by tragedy on Tuesday.
'You can imagine the trauma:' Update on collapsed house victims
A gas line caused an explosion, leading to this Carbon Street home collapsing and sending a dozen people to the hospital.
Tanveer Uhktar led a group of children in prayer for their friends still in critical condition.
One child, Sudais Amiri, says he deeply misses his friend who was in the house, describing him as a "bodyguard" for him.
I’ve been kinda sad and lonely because I don't really have a lot of friends in my school, and I miss him.
Amiri says he is looking forward to seeing his friend again, “I’ll be happy, and I will say you're back, and I missed you.”
Uhktar, who helps run the Syracuse branch of the Zakat Foundation, says many of the refugees she works with need to be put in better housing.
According to her, they often end up in older houses that haven’t been maintained and have problems.
But if we don't provide them a better place, then the results are like this. So I think housing needs more inspection and more safety codes; they should enforce more safety codes before anyone rents.
Akhtar says that before refugees are relocated, they are taught how to use utilities and appliances.
Family friend of house collapse victims provides update on their conditions
The Zakat Foundation then helps them learn anything else they're unsure of before moving into their new home.
