Part of a public housing tower in the Bronx collapsed on Wednesday morning, but authorities reported no injuries.
The New York Fire Department said the incident occurred around 8:10 a.m. at the Mitchel Houses, after a suspected gas explosion destroyed an incinerator shaft in the 20-story building. Officials stressed that “no residential units were affected.”
“An investigation is underway to determine the cause of this event and the extent of any damage beyond the reported exterior damage to the chimney,” the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) said in a statement.
Footage from nearby residents showed one corner of the high-rise ripped open from ground to roof, with clouds of dust filling the street. Air conditioners were seen among the rubble, apparently torn from windows by falling bricks.
Mayor Eric Adams, who was briefed on the collapse, urged residents to “please avoid the area for your safety.” Police confirmed receiving multiple 911 calls, with officers, firefighters, city inspectors, and Con Edison securing the site. “Upon arrival, officers observed a partial building collapse,” the NYPD said.
The collapse has revived concerns over the condition of New York’s aging public housing stock. About half a million people live in NYCHA buildings, many dating back to the mid-20th century. Tenants have long complained of rodents, mold, heating failures, and structural decay.
A federal monitor appointed in 2019 to address chronic problems concluded his term last year, noting that the biggest challenge remained the “poor physical state of NYCHA’s buildings.”
