Partial collapse of apartment building in NYC due to blast loading

On Wednesday morning, an apartment building in the Bronx partially collapsed following an explosion, according to the FDNY. The blast, which occurred around 8:10 a.m. at 207 Alexander Avenue, caused the building’s ventilator shaft to give way. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but at least 40 apartments were evacuated as a precaution. Officials shut off gas services to the building, and K-9 units were deployed to search through piles of debris in case anyone was trapped.

Authorities believe the explosion may be linked to the building’s chimney and boiler room, though the exact cause is still under investigation. Fire officials suspect the ventilator shaft was the source of the blast, while New York City Mayor Eric Adams assured the public that a full assessment was underway. Emergency crews, including Con Edison workers and Department of Buildings inspectors, were on site checking the structure’s stability. A NotifyNYC alert also warned residents to expect traffic delays in the area due to the heavy emergency response.

The collapse happened at a particularly tense moment, as parents were in the middle of dropping off their children at P.S. 154 Jonathan D. Hyatt Elementary School and the nearby NYCHA Mitchel Day Care Center. People in the area recalled hearing a powerful blast that sent smoke into the air as parts of the building gave way. In response, the American Red Cross moved quickly to set up an emergency shelter for displaced families. Furthermore, MTA buses were also brought in to provide extra support. The incident follows a fire in the same building just last week that left a teenage girl in critical condition, and it comes two years after another Bronx apartment building collapsed in Morris Heights. All the above highlight ongoing concerns about building safety in the borough.