Gas Blast Triggers Partial Collapse of High-Rise in Bronx, NYC; No Reported Injuries

NEW YORK — A gas explosion erupted in an apartment building in the Bronx on Wednesday morning, resulting in a partial collapse and reducing a corner of the structure to rubble.

City police said they received 911 calls about a building collapse just after 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Mitchel Houses building.

“Upon arrival, officers observed a partial building collapse,” police said in a statement.

The city’s fire department reported no immediate injuries. They were responding to a gas explosion that led to the collapse of an incinerator shaft in the Bronx building.

The rest of the building appeared to be stable with no apartments affected, but that was being investigated by the Department of Buildings.

The building is city-owned public housing. Multiple messages seeking comment were left with the Housing Authority.

Video footage from the scene reveals a high-rise with its corner crumbled from the ground level upwards. Nearby residents captured videos of a dust cloud spreading across the block moments after the collapse.

Mayor Eric Adams mentioned being briefed on the situation, noting that officials were still working on a complete assessment. He urged the public to “Please avoid the area for your safety,” in a message on X.

New York City buildings previously used incinerator shafts for trash disposal, where garbage was burned on site. These have mostly been replaced by trash compactors, which can use the same chutes.

In a related incident in July 2023, a massive construction crane caught fire above Manhattan’s West Side, causing its arm to detach, strike a nearby building, and crash down to the street, prompting pedestrians to flee. Although several individuals sustained minor injuries, there were no fatalities.

The Associated Press and WABC contributed to this report.