The corner of an apartment complex in the Bronx, New York, suddenly collapsed on Monday afternoon, but “miraculously” the number of injuries is believed to be minimal as authorities are still trying to understand the cause of the incident.
“Miraculously, no one was seriously injured in the partial collapse of the building […] “If you look at the scene and the surveillance footage, it could have been much worse,” New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said on social media, the New York Post reported.
Around 3:30 p.m., the entire corner of a 1927 block containing 47 residential units and six commercial businesses is said to have collapsed, taking seven rooms with it in the collapse.
All people were evacuated from the partially collapsed building at 1915 Billingsley Terrace, Bronx. The building has 47 residential units and 6 commercial units. The search for potential victims is ongoing. pic.twitter.com/UAq3CRnDrT
– FDNY (@FDNY) December 11, 2023
In impressive images we see the interior of the exposed units, whose walls and floors were swept away by the slide. A total of two people were slightly injured and all residents were evacuated from the building.
“It is unclear what caused this corner of the building to collapse. And we don't know if it will fall again. But we are looking for life and that is our main goal right now,” said John Hodgens, FDNY chief.
On Monday, firefighters searched the pile of rubble with a cadaver dog to locate potential victims beneath the pile.
For its part, the building owner submitted its most recent report dated March 2021, which revealed seven unsafe facade conditions, including damage to the mortar and cracked bricks, as Department of Buildings Commissioner James Oddo revealed, according to the NY Post, but none were structural he clear
An investigation has been launched to shed light on the events.