City officials say workers clearing away debris at the site of a building collapse in Manhattan have reached the basement level where the initial explosion took place.

The explosion and fire on March 26 killed two people, injured 22 others, and brought down three buildings along Second Avenue. Officials are looking into whether someone had illegally tapped into a gas line.

Officials say debris removal will continue intermittently to allow for the investigation into the cause of the explosion to continue.

The two people killed were 26-year-old restaurant worker Moises Ismael Locon Yac (moy-SEHS’ ihs-MY’-ehl loh-KOHN’ yak) and 23-year-old Nicholas Figueroa. He was on a date at the restaurant when the explosion occurred.

The blast also left some pets missing. Two cats were reunited with their owner this week.

(AP)