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.
The collapse appears to have originated from an explosion in the ventilation shaft of a boiler room, as indicated by the city's fire commissioner Robert Tucker in a news conference.
No apartments were damaged, but as a precaution, some residents have been evacuated and the gas to the building has been turned off as the investigation continues.
The New York City Housing Authority, which manages the complex, confirmed they are evaluating the situation and the extent of damage. The building had a history of open violations.
NYC’s Department of Buildings has issued a partial stop work order related to plumbing violations that may not have been properly maintained. This occurrence closely follows a recent incident in the building involving a fire that left a teenager in critical condition.
We were lucky that this emergency didn't result in a loss of life, that it didn't turn into a tragedy, said Amanda Septimo, an assembly member representing the area, emphasizing the need for improved safety measures in the community.
