Gas Explosion In Downtown Bagel Shop, Employee Badly Burned

CHAPPAQUA, NY — A gas explosion at a bagel shop has left a worker badly injured and is keeping neighboring shops in the area closed for the time being, according to New Castle Town Supervisor Jeremy Saland.

Initial indications are that the shop involved is The Bagel Emporium at 95 King Street. Waka and Le Jardin are also located in the building.

"It appears the explosion may have occurred when the oven was opened that had been preheated an hour before," Saland said in a statement. "It is unclear if the oven lit when turned on earlier, before the injured employee opened it to start baking the bagels. The front windows and door were blown out. The building was boarded up and the glass cleaned up."

The explosion occurred just after 4:30 a.m. on Saturday before the store opened its doors to customers for the day.

"Prayers for the injured," New Castle Town Councilmember Lori Morton wrote in a social media post on Saturday. "Will update as info becomes available."