A section of a 20-storey residential building partially collapsed in New York City on Wednesday morning, and authorities say there are no injuries.
Firefighters and emergency responders searched into the afternoon for anyone who may have been trapped under the mounds of rubble outside the building, which is part of a public housing development in the Bronx.
The whole building just - you heard a loud boom, and the thing just exploded, and it fell down just like that, said one witness who spoke with CBS News, BBC's US partner.
Another witness described a broken window on the 16th floor due to the blast.
The collapse seems to have originated from an explosion in the ventilation shaft of a boiler room, according to the city's fire commissioner Robert Tucker.
No apartments were damaged, but some residents have been evacuated as a precaution. Others were allowed to return, but the gas has been shut off as a detailed investigation continues to determine if a gas leak caused the explosion, as stated by Mayor Eric Adams. Utility provider ConEd has not returned a request for comment.
The New York City Housing Authority, which manages the complex, is also investigating the incident to ascertain the extent of damages. The building has several open violations noted against it.
The Department of Buildings issued a partial stop work order related to plumbing violations and active facade safety concerns.
The partial collapse followed a recent fire in the same building that left a teenage girl in critical condition; reports indicate she is now recovering.
We were lucky that this emergency didn't result in a loss of life, commented Amanda Septimo, an assembly member representing the area, emphasizing the need for consistent safety measures.
