'I just heard BOOM.' Chimney connected to boiler collapses at NYCHA building, brings down high-rise wall
According to the FDNY, the incident happened at Alexander Avenue and East 137th Street and East 135th Street.
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A building partially collapsed this morning in Mott Haven.
The incident happened at Alexander Avenue and East 137th Street and East 135th Street. Officials say a chimney connected to the boiler collapsed from the multi-dwelling.
The Office of Emergency Management says the FDNY has completed its operations and left the scene, while the NYPD remains on site for security and road closures.
NYCHA contractors are addressing loose bricks and a safety fence has been installed, OEM says.
The American Red Cross is offering assistance with food and supplies, with 140 residents relocated to a hotel.
MUST-WATCH VIDEO: News 12 viewer Tracey Wiggins captured the moment the building partially collapsed. Watch the video below:
A residents tell News 12 they were asleep, and it woke them up.
“I’m on the seventh floor, I’m sleeping all I hear is loud explosion, I thought an airplane crash. We ran out, smoke, grey, black, everyone was running in and out of the building and no one knew what was happening.”
According to the FDNY, there are no reported injuries. News 12 saw two canines search the rubble to make sure no one is under it earlier.
A Red Cross worker was seen removing a bloody dog from the building site.
Officials say residents in the F and G line of the building have been affected by the collapse and have been evacuated.
According to officials, work was being done on the boiler at the time of the explosion.
Mayor Eric Adams says the boiler was turned on today for the first time. Oct. 1 is the day the city begins to turn on heat for NYCHA complexes. However, it is too soon to say if that was part of the cause of the collapse.
Some residents that spoke with News 12 say they had been smelling gas for some time in the building.
"Today is very strong," said one resident. "I feel so scared. I don't want to live there anymore, because we have a lot of complaints. But they don't pay mind."
Officials say they are working to clear the debris, restore heat, hot water and cooking gas to the campus.
"I was in my house. When that happened, we feel like the building was moving around. We thought it was an earthquake. So I was so scared," said a building resident to News 12.
Building residents are concerned about their belongings.
"My wheelchair is upstairs, my medical supplies, and I really need them bad. My apartment is open. We don't care about none of the belongings, but my medical supplies and my wheelchair," said one resident.
The Red Cross says it has a team currently on scene and is working to connect with impacted residents and coordinate with government partners to help support these residents. Residents who are displaced can go to the Mitchell Community Center at 210 Alexander Ave. for assistance.
"I just heard BOOM. For a minute after the boom, we saw the birds flying, we started looking around, we saw a little smoke. And then after the little smoke the building started [crumbling]," said Edward, one resident who was dropping off his daughter at school.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said “We will do everything possible to make sure we minimize the disruption and anxiety of residents. We avoided a major disaster here.”
Some residents say they are concerned about the building. "They don't do inspections like they're supposed to do, and there's a lot of disrepair," on resident said.
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has also been briefed on the situation.
"I’m grateful for the FDNY and other first responders who rushed to the scene of a partial building collapse in the Bronx this morning. No injuries have been reported — praying it stays that way."
New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo was also briefed on the situation.
According to News 12’s research, the building had a partial stop work order in effect.
Before the collapse, they had a total of 19 violations, seven of which were active.
That partial stop work order was due to inactive licenses for an active project, although we cannot confirm what that project was.
