Summary

  • Officials in New York City say there were no injuries when part of a residential building collapsed in the Bronx

  • Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson says many people had already left for the day and children were in school: "We avoided a major disaster here"

  • New York City Mayor Eric Adams says there was "some type of explosion", and an investigation is under way to work out the cause

  • The explosion happened just after 08:00 local time - the New York fire commissioner Robert Tucker says there was a "major collapse of a structure attached to this building"

  • Tucker says it seems there was an explosion in the ventilation shaft, connected to the boiler room - "thank God no one was hurt"

  • Adams later adds: "It's not lost for me that October 1 is the first day that heating is turned on" - an official later says boilers are tested over the summer

Footage captures the moments after partial collapse of apartment building

Live Reporting

Edited by Brandon Livesay in New York

  1. NY mayor tells locals to avoid the area

    New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he's aware of what's happening in the Bronx.

    "New Yorkers, I have been briefed about the emergency situation taking place in the Mott Haven area of the Bronx," he wrote on X. "We are getting a full assessment from first responders and will continue to provide updates."

    He asked people to avoid the area.

  2. Photos show vertical gash in side of building

    Aerial photos of a partially collapsed NY buildingCBS
    Aerial photos of a partially collapsed NY buildingCBS

  3. What we do and don't know so far

    What we know:

    • A 20-storey residential building in New York City partially collapsed at approximately 08:13 local time (13:13 BST)
    • The fire department is calling the incident - which occurred on Alexander Avenue near 135th Street in the Bronx - a "major emergency"
    • Firefighters are continuing to dig through the rubble, using drones and dogs to make sure no one is trapped underneath, CBS News reports
    • No injuries have been reported and no apartments were impacted, NYC authorities say

    What we still don't know:

    • What caused the chimney side of the building to collapse
    • No injuries have so far been reported, but first responders are still at the scene
    • The FDNY initially said it was responding to reports of an explosion at the site - it's still unclear if one occurred

  4. Watch live coverage above

    We're getting aerial footage of the partially collapsed building - press watch live at the top of the page to follow along.

  5. Deli worker saw smoke rising from building

    Grace Eliza Goodwin
    Reporting from New York

    A man who works in a deli across the street from the collapsed building tells me he saw smoke coming out from the roof of the building, but did not hear the collapse itself.

    Ahmed describes the situation as being very scary.

    The public housing residential building, part of the New York City Housing Authority, is in a residential neighbourhood of the Bronx, one of New York City's five boroughs just north of Manhattan.

    It's across the street from a charter school and a Catholic church and community centre. It's also nearby to a number of small stores and bodegas like the deli where Ahmed works, a Dunkin' Donuts, a flower shop, and a Chinese restaurant.

  6. Emergency responders search through fallen debris

    Aerial footage shows partial collapse of Bronx apartment building

    Aerial footage from the scene shows a massive vertical scar in the side of the building.

    On the street there is a large pile of rubble, including some AC units that were dislodged in the collapse. Emergency responders and police dogs are searching through the fallen debris.

    Officials say there were no injuries.

    There are dozens of emergency vehicles surrounding the area and the streets are closed.

  7. Traffic delays near building incident

    New York City Emergency Management tells drivers to expect traffic delays and emergency personnel near the site of the incident, at Alexander Avenue & East 135th Street.

    The delays are because of fire department activity, they say.

  8. No injuries reported, officials say

    We have some more information now from our US partner, CBS News.

    The building is a 20-storey residential complex. At 8:13 local time, the chimney side of the structure collapsed, a NYC official told CBS News.

    No apartments were impacted, but the part of the building that was impacted was evacuated.

  9. Photo from fire department shows extensive damage
    Breaking

    An aerial photo of a building with a missing chunkFDNY

    New York City's Fire Department has just shared a photo from the scene.

    The aerial image shows a large chunk missing from the side of the building.

  10. Emergency services called to building in Bronx about 40 minutes ago

    The situation was reported shortly before 08:30 ET on Wednesday - about 40 minutes ago.

    Our US news partner CBS reports that the building is Alexander Avenue near East 135th Street in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx.

  11. Fire department conducting major emergency response
    Breaking

    A little more for you now from the New York City Fire Department, who say there's a major emergency response to the incident.

    The partial collapse took place at a 20-storey "multi-dwelling" in New York City.

    There are currently no reported injuries - operations are ongoing.

  12. New York building partially collapses
    Breaking

    New York City's fire department are dealing with reports of an explosion at a building, in which the incinerator shaft has collapsed.

    As yet unverified videos online show a large section of a high-rise building collapsed.

    This is a breaking story - we'll bring you more in the next few moments.