New York, March 12 (IANS): A massive explosionin East Harlem here Wednesday morning caused two buildings to collapse, the fire department said.

"It happened around 9 a.m. on Park Avenue between 114th and 117th streets," CBS news quoted the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) as saying.

Television pictures from the scene showed heavy smoke billowing from the area as firefighters battled the blaze. The bomb squad responded as a precaution, though it is still unclear whether anyone was present inside the buildings.

According to reports, 11 people sustained minor injuries.

A man on the 15th floor of a building on 125th Street reportedly said he saw dark smoke billowing down several blocks. While one of the buildings that collapsed had a piano repair shop with apartments above, the other housed a church.

Meanwhile, services in and out of Grand Central Terminal has been suspended until further notice.

Metro-North said the explosion happened adjacent to the train tracks.

Many reported hearing a loud explosion and began posting pictures of the scene on Twitter