East Harlem residents were terrified Thursday that the dust kicked up by the building explosion will lead to lung diseases and other serious problems.
“It smells like the entire world is burnt to ashes over here,” said truck driver Jay Cardi, 37, who lives nearby.
“My sister is asthmatic, and she can’t live here anymore. I was downtown a week after 9/11, and I haven’t smelled anything this bad since then.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio urged residents to stay indoors and keep windows closed.
A source said no airborne asbestos had been found yet.