Questions of accountability linger after East Harlem explosion

Two East Harlem residential buildings in New York City were destroyed Wednesday after an explosion from an apparent gas leak, and the aftermath has some examining the social dynamics at play in the upkeep of the buildings. Eight people have been confirmed dead from explosion as of Thursday evening.

After the explosion, the buildings' tenants told the Associated Press of their repeated complaints about the "unbearable" smell of gas in recent weeks. The demographics of the neighborhood, which is primarily Latino, has raised questions about the role of race, class and neglect in the explosion.