Three days after the enormous explosion that leveled two buildings in Manhattan's East Harlem, rescue workers continue to rummage through the debris in search of bodies. Yet, the reason behind the explosion is now clear and warrants an insight into New York City's infrastructure. The heavily Latino area suffered through a lot, with over a hundred people now homeless and various victims still in the hospital.

The buildings were fed natural gas by a cast-iron pipe dating back to 1887, according to the New York Daily News. Following an investigation by Con Edison, it was determined that the ancient pipe had been leaking natural gas and more than likely caused the explosion.

"Normally the soil in New York City, 18 to 24 inches down into the ground, would have zero concentration of natural gas," said Robert Sumwalt of the National Transportation Safety Board to the Daily News, however the soil near the explosion site was up to 20 percent saturated. Con Edison determined this after digging 50 holes around the vicinity of the explosion.

Con Edison, however, contends that the main was repaired in 2004 and when last inspected in Feb. 28 of this year, there was no leak. Regardless of the situation before the blast, there are 55 families without a home. The buildings in the prominently Hispanic area and the two buildings destroyed were part of the city's affordable housing scheme.

According to the AP, many of the victims were Hispanic. They were: Griselde Camacho, 45, a Hunter College security officer; Carmen Tanco, 67, a dental hygienist who took part in church-sponsored medical missions to Africa and the Caribbean; Andreas Panagopoulos, 43, a musician; Rosaura Hernandez, 22, a restaurant cook from Mexico; George Ameado, 44, a handyman who lived in one of the buildings that collapsed; and Alexis Salas, 22, a restaurant worker. Another victim, identified by the Mexican government, is Rosaura Barrios Vazquez. The eight identified victim was Mayumi Nakamura, 34, a Japanese citizen.

The incident has raised awareness, according to the AP, concerning the city's aging infrastructure. It is reported that the area's water main was installed only ten years after the gas pipe. No comment has been made by any of the pertinent organizations and offices to correct this problem.