A residential building in Manhattan exploded and collapsed on Wednesday, killing at least one person and injuring 17 others as a serious fire engulfed the area in thick smoke, officials said.

The explosion struck a building at 116th Street and Park Avenue in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York, where witnesses said they were jolted awake by what sounded like an earthquake. Mainline train services in and out of Grand Central terminal were suspended as a result of the incident next to its tracks.

Firefighters stand in the courtyard of a building that collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street after an explosion in New York, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) New York City firefighters hose down the rubble from a building that collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan) A New York City firefighter climbs on top of the remains of building that collapsed after explosion on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan)

New York City firefighters hose down the rubble from a building that collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan) Firefighters hose down the rubble of a building on 116th street in the Harlem section of New York City, after an explosion that took down two buildings March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) An emergency responder makes his through the smoke on 116th street in the Harlem section of New York City, after an explosion that took down two buildings March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

New York City firefighters hose down the rubble from a building that collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) A firefighting ladder sits on of the rubble from an explosion where two buildings collapse in the Harlem section of New York City, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) A New York City firefighter looks down on the remains of one of the building that collapsed and caught fire on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York City, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

New York City firefighters direct a hose towards the burning debris after two buildings collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York City, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) Through the smoke across the courtyard, New York City firefighters hose down rubble from rooftops above after two buildings collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York City, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) New York City firefighters climb on top of rubble of two buildings that collapsed after an explosion on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York City, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Two New York City firefighters climb on top of the remains of building that collapsed after explosion on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) New York City firefighters hose down rubble after two buildings collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York City, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) Through the smoke, New York City firefighters aboard a tower ladder prepare to hose down a building that collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York City, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
New York City firefighters aboard a tower ladder extinguish a fire after a two building collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York City, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) Emergency vehicles block the streets after two buildings collapsed following an explosion on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York City, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) Building surrounding the courtyard with windows blown out following an explosion on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York City; March 12; 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Two firefighters sit in the courtyard of a building that collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street after an explosion in New York, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) Smoke fills the sky above two burning buildings after an explosion on Park Ave. and 116th Street in the Harlem section of New York City, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) New York City firefighters hose down rubble from rooftops above after two buildings collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street in New York City, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Two firefighters sit in the courtyard of a building that collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street after an explosion in New York, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/) A fire burns in the rumble of a building that collapsed on Park Ave. and 116th Street after an explosion in New York, March 12, 2014. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)