New York City crane collapse – live: 12 injured after 16 tonnes of concrete rains down on Manhattan
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A construction crane caught fire and partially collapsed in the heart of Manhattan on Wednesday morning, sending commuters fleeing for their lives as rubble rained down onto the streets below.
The fire broke out at around 7.30am ET on a crane on a building under construction along W 41st St and 10th Avenue, close to Hudson Yards.
Bystander footage showed the top of the crane alight before it suddenly collapsed, crashing into a building opposite where it appeared to smash several windows. New Yorkers in the streets below were seen running away from the carnage.
Two construction workers told The Indepednent about the “terrifying” moment the building they were working in was suddenly struck by the crane.
“We’re walking down the stairs and that’s when you hear the boom, boom, boom,” Alexander, a construction worker who only wished to be identified by his first name, told The Independent.
Twelve people – nine civilians and three firefighters – were injured in the collapse, the FDNY told CNN.
All suffered non-life threatening injuries while one of the firefighters suffered chest pains.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that it was “extremely lucky” more people weren’t hurt.
Witnesses share terror watching and hearing construction crane collapse
“Terrifying.”
It was the only word that two New York City construction workers said came to mind when the building they were working in was suddenly struck by a partially collapsed crane on Wednesday.
Ariana Baio filed this report from the scene in Hell’s Kitchen on the westside of Manhattan, shortly after the incident this morning.
Witnesses share terror watching and hearing construction crane collapse in NYC
Arm of construction crane collapsed, striking a nearby building on Wednesday morning
Recap: At least six injured after New York City construction crane partially collapses during fire
A construction crane sitting 45 stories atop a building in the Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood of New York City caught fire and partially collapsed on Wednesday morning.
Around 7.30am, a fire broke out on the arm of a crane located on a building under construction near Tenth Avenue and West 41st Street.
Photos and videos taken from the incident showed the crane ablaze for several moments with dark, thick smoke billowing from it.
Kelly Rissman and Ariana Baio report from the scene on the westside of Manhattan.
At least six injured after NYC construction crane partially collapses during fire
Part of construction crane sitting atop Manhattan high-rise fell onto a nearby building on Wednesday
Video shows crane crashing into Manhattan skyscraper after catching fire
This terrifying footage shows a large construction crane on fire in Manhattan. The arm of the crane hits a building as it crashes into the street below. Videos posted across social media show flames bursting from the crane above 10th Avenue on 41st street. The crane’s arm scraped the top floors of a skyscraper across the street as it fell, shortly before 8am New York time. There are no immediate reports of any injuries. Emergency services are at the scene.
200 firefighters called to scene
More than 200 firefighters responded to the scene of the crane collapse with crews stationed on the roof deck of a neighbouring building to use hoses to put out the flames.
The blaze was brought under control by 11.45am according to the Fire Department of New York City.
Mayor Eric Adams noted that a review of the building found “all documentations were in order” for construction but the Department of Buildings will conduct a full assessment to determine what happened.
Streets still closed around site of incident
The New York City Police Department has advised the following streets are still closed after this morning’s crane fire and collapse.
10 Avenue - CLOSED between West 39 Street- West 42 Street
West 40 Street- CLOSED in both diections between Dyre Ave- Galvin Ave
West 41 Street- CLOSED in both directions bewteen Dyre Ave- 11 Ave
West 42 Street- OPEN in both directions
West 39 Street- OPEN only in W/B direction between 9 Avenue - 11 Avenue
Not the first crane accident for city, or equipment owner
The crane is owned by the New York Crane & Equipment Corp., one of the city’s most widely used crane providers, officials said. The Queens-based company has been involved in other crane problems in recent years, leading to criminal charges and new safety measures around New York City’s crane operations.
The company did not respond to a request for comment.
In May of 2008, a collapse of the company’s tower crane killed two workers on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The company and its owner, James Lomma, were acquitted of manslaughter and other charges; a mechanic pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide.
It was one of two deadly crane accidents in 2008, leading to the resignation of the city’s buildings commissioner, as well as new safety measures around testing and oversight of crane operations.
Five years later, a crane owned by the company left a concrete cube dangling above a bustling pedestrian area for several hours, shutting down a major thoroughfare in Midtown Manhattan.
Witnesses share terror watching and hearing construction crane collapse
“Terrifying.”
It was the only word that two New York City construction workers said came to mind when the building they were working in was suddenly struck by a partially collapsed crane on Wednesday.
Ariana Baio filed this report from the scene in Hell’s Kitchen on the westside of Manhattan, shortly after the incident this morning.
Witnesses share terror watching and hearing construction crane collapse in NYC
Arm of construction crane collapsed, striking a nearby building on Wednesday morning
Watch: New York City District 3 Council Member Eric Bottcher gives update from site
“We’re walking down the stairs and that’s when you hear the boom, boom, boom,” Alexander, a construction worker who only wished to be identified by his first name, told The Independent.
“My heart is beating out of my chest because after that rumbling I’m like ‘this building is going to come down,’” Alexander said.
Alexander was working on the 12th floor of the under-construction building at 550 10th Avenue when a nearby crane caught fire and partially collapsed.
Jahsaan Osborne, who was working approximately two floors above Alexander, said they began evacuations when someone said the crane caught fire.
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