Section of NYC Residential Building Collapses Following Explosion

Sat Oct 11 2025 04:10:36 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A partial collapse of a residential building in the Bronx raises safety concerns as authorities investigate the cause of the explosion that led to the incident.

On Wednesday morning, a section of a 20-storey residential building in the Bronx, New York City, partially collapsed following an apparent explosion in the boiler room's ventilation shaft. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported as emergency responders searched for potential victims. The incident has prompted investigations into possible gas leaks and the building's ongoing safety violations.

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 reported that a window in a neighboring building shattered, emphasizing the force of the incident.

The collapse seems to have originated from an explosion in the ventilation shaft of a boiler room, the city's fire commissioner Robert Tucker said in a news conference.

No apartments were damaged, but as a precautionary measure, some residents have been evacuated. Others were allowed to return, but the gas to the building has been shut off as authorities investigate.

That investigation will determine whether a gas leak caused the explosion, Mayor Eric Adams said. Utility provider ConEd has not returned a request for comment from BBC.

The New York City Housing Authority, which manages the complex, stated that it is investigating the incident and still determining the extent of the damage. The building has a few open violations against it.

The NYC Department of Buildings issued a partial stop work order on the building in June, linked to plumbing violations that may have been inadequately maintained. There are also active violations related to facade safety inspections on the property.

Just a week prior, a fire in the same building had left a teenage girl in critical condition, making the recent collapse particularly alarming for residents.

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.

As investigations proceed, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of the building's residents.