Bronx high-rise partially collapses after explosion. Video shows entire side of 20-story building gone.

An explosion rocked a Bronx high-rise Wednesday morning, causing the entire side of the 20-story building to collapse. 

Videos show a gaping hole in the side of the building and extensive damage all along Alexander Avenue in the Mott Haven section of the borough. At this point, amazingly, no injuries have been reported.   

Mayor Eric Adams visited the scene and joined officials for a live update about what may have caused the blast. 

“We received reports of an incident involving the chimney to the boiler room here at NYCHA’s Mitchel Houses. This resulted in a partial building collapse,” the mayor announced. “We are extremely fortunate, at this time, we have no loss of life or no injuries.”

“We are thankful that there were no fatalities and no injuries, as we have learned that this happened in the boiler room,” Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson added. 

The explosion was reported around 8:10 a.m. Wednesday at 205 Alexander Ave., a residential high-rise in the Mitchel Houses. 

One witness said she saw the smoke after dropping her kids off at school and called 911. 

“The whole building just — you heard a loud boom, and the thing just exploded, and it fell down just like that,” she said. 

The New York City Housing Authority Complex was completed in 1966 and encompasses two city blocks from East 135th to 137th streets. According to the most recent NYCHA data, it houses approximately 3,500 residents in 1,730 units across 10 residential buildings. It also has one non-residential building. 

Wednesday’s blast sent bricks, air conditioning units and other debris raining down onto nearby buildings and the sidewalk and street below. Water also appeared to be bubbling up from the ground, possibly from a damaged pipe.  

“Somebody in the building next to me, they said that their window even fell, and it’s on the 16th floor,” said another witness who was inside with her son.

Firefighters could be seen digging through the rubble and using drones and dogs to make sure no one was trapped underneath.   

“Luckily, as the mayor said, no one was injured. We ran our dogs over this pile of bricks that is behind us, which is the structure that collapsed — it is a ventilation shaft connected to the boiler, which collapsed. We believe that’s where the explosion occurred, but that’s going to be for our fire marshals and the NYPD and all of our investigative partners to investigate and explore,” said FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker. 

Some Mitchel Houses apartments being evacuated

Officials say F and G apartments are being evacuated out of an abundance of caution. 

Adams said other residents are being allowed back inside, but gas has been shut off for the entire complex and inspections are ongoing.

“Number one, the safety of the residents is of paramount importance. That’s the number one concern. We have building inspectors inspecting the foundation of the building and inspecting all of the apartments in the affected areas to make sure that the building is structurally sound for people that live on those wings,” Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said.   

“Most importantly for all of us elected officials and community leaders here, we want to ensure that the structural integrity of this building here at Mitchel is maintained. There is a lot of concern, a lot of anxiety from the residents that live here at Mitchel about what happens in the long term,” added Gibson. “So over the next several hours, as inspectors are in the building, we will do everything possible to make sure that we minimize the disruption and the anxiety of the residents and the families here in this working class community.”  

The FDNY, NYPD, Office of Emergency Management, Department of Buildings, NYCHA, Con Edison and other agencies all responded to the scene, and the Red Cross set up a support center for residents inside the Mitchel Community Center at 210 Alexander Ave. 

“If we need to do a vacate at some point in time, that’s also where we’ll run the operations for people getting additional housing,” said Iscol. 

He said anyone experiencing issues can call 311 or call NYCHA at 718-707-7771.

“Some demolition is going to take place today to remove the remnants of that chimney to get into the basement, and then to restore services — heat, hot water and cooking gas — to the campus,” he added. 

Meanwhile, several nearby streets remain closed, and drivers are facing heavy delays around the area.

Check back soon for updates on this developing story. 

Natalie Duddridge

contributed to this report.