A gas explosion tore through a Bronx public housing tower Wednesday morning, collapsing part of the building but seemingly sparing residents from injury.
The blast, believed to have originated from a boiler at NYCHA’s Mitchel Houses in Mott Haven at 205 Alexander Avenue, brought down the 17-story tower’s chimney shaft just after 8 a.m., ABC7 reported. FDNY officials said the collapse appeared limited to the structure’s exterior corner, though the Department of Buildings is still assessing whether apartments were compromised.
Debris piled high at the base of the property, where bricks, air conditioners and rubble blanketed the sidewalk, sparking several complaints about excessive debris. FDNY drones surveyed the damage, while two NYPD K-9s combed the wreckage. There were no signs of anyone trapped and by late morning, city officials confirmed there were no fatalities or injuries.
The Department of Buildings established a collapse zone around the site and demolition crews are expected to dismantle what’s left of the chimney before restoring utilities. Con Edison cut gas service.
The Mitchel Houses already carried a partial stop-work order from June 25, per DOB records. There was also a plumbing/license complaint in June and a stuck elevator complaint last March. The building has six active violations with penalties due of $31,000, according to DOB records.
Residents described the chaos of the evacuation.
“It sounded like a bomb,” one man told Eyewitness News. Another said families rushed out barefoot, carrying children into the cold.
In a statement, NYCHA said that “an investigation is underway to determine the cause of this event and the extent of any damage beyond the reported exterior damage to the chimney.”
More than 3,400 people live in the Mitchel Houses, which date back to 1966. Tenants along the F and G lines were temporarily relocated to a nearby community center.
The incident adds another safety black eye for NYCHA, which has been frequently chided with tenant complaints and capital repair needs.
— Holden Walter-Warner
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