Panic swept through the New York’s Bronx after part of a 20-storey public housing building suddenly collapsed, sending dust and debris across the neighborhood. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) confirmed that the corner of the high-rise at 207 Alexander Avenue in the Mitchel Houses complex gave way around 8:10 am (local time). No injuries were immediately reported but officials said the situation remained fluid as emergency crews searched the site.
Authorities believe the collapse may have involved an incinerator shaft, a feature in older New York apartment blocks once used for burning trash, but the exact cause has not been confirmed. Investigators are also examining whether a gas explosion might have triggered the structural failure.
Officials are also working to determine whether the structure’s age and design played a role in the incident.
Eyewitness video shared on social media showed one corner of the building reduced to rubble, stretching from the roofline to the ground floor. A thick cloud of dust engulfed the block moments after the collapse, sending residents fleeing. The New York Police Department said it began receiving multiple 911 calls just after 8 am.
BREAKING: A gas explosion in an apartment building in the Bronx caused a partial collapse Wednesday morning. An NYC official said that there are no known injuries at this point. https://t.co/9tDNtZcDDw pic.twitter.com/UtNSSPOuFr
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) October 1, 2025
“Upon arrival, officers observed a partial building collapse,” the NYPD said in a statement.
New York Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to stay away from the site, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “New Yorkers, I have been briefed about the emergency situation taking place in the Mott Haven area of the Bronx. Please avoid the area for your safety.”
Emergency crews, including firefighters, police officers, building inspectors and Con Edison utility teams, quickly cordoned off the area and established a safety perimeter.
