5 indicted in 2015 New York City gas explosion that killed 2

FILE - In this March 27, 2015 file photo, a pile of debris remains at the site of a building explosion in the East Village neighborhood of New York. The Manhattan district attorney and others make an announcement on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, about the investigation into the March 2015 explosion that killed two people and leveled three buildings in the East Village. (Nancy Borowick/The New York Times via AP, Pool) FILE - In this March 27, 2015 file photo, a pile of debris remains at the site of a building explosion in the East Village neighborhood of New York. The Manhattan district attorney and others make an announcement on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, about the investigation into the March 2015 explosion that killed two people and leveled three buildings in the East Village. (Nancy Borowick/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

By Associated Press February 11, 2016 1 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – A building owner and four others have been indicted on charges that include manslaughter in connection with a gas explosion last year that killed two people and leveled three New York City buildings.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. and other officials said Thursday that the charges also include criminally negligent homicide and assault. They say the defendants set up an illegal gas delivery system.

Vance says the carnage was caused by “a foreseeable, preventable and completely avoidable gas explosion.”

The March 2015 explosion injured 22 people and killed restaurant worker Moises Ismael Locon Yac (moy-SEHS’ ihs-MY’-ehl loh-KOHN’ yak) and diner Nicholas Figueroa.

Two years ago, a gas explosion in an East Harlem building killed eight people and injured about 50. A gas leak was reported before that blast.