MOTT HAVEN, BRONX ā A massive explosion, believed to be gas-related, tore a 20-story gash down the side of a public housing building in the Bronx on Wednesday morning, sending a cascade of bricks and debris onto the street below. Despite the catastrophic damage, officials reported that, miraculously, no one was injured in the blast.
The incident occurred around 8:10 a.m. at the NYCHA Mitchel Houses on Alexander Avenue, prompting a major emergency response and the evacuation of some residents.
"It Sounded Like a Bomb"
Residents described hearing a "loud boom" that shook the building. "The whole building just -- you heard a loud boom, and the thing just exploded, and it fell down just like that," one witness said.
The explosion blew out an entire corner of the 20-story building's facade, creating a gaping hole from the roof to the ground. Debris, including bricks and air conditioning units, rained down, damaging nearby structures. The blast also reportedly caused a water main to break.
"People were carrying babies, people got no shoes on, got no coats, no hats, it's cold outside," a resident said, describing a chaotic evacuation.
The Official Response and Cause
First responders, including the FDNY and NYPD, immediately began searching the large rubble pile with K-9 units and drones to ensure no one was trapped.
At a press conference at the scene, officials stated the explosion appeared to originate from the building's boiler system. "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," said Mayor Eric Adams. "We are extremely fortunate, at this time, we have no loss of life or no injuries."
FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker clarified that the collapsed structure was a "ventilation shaft connected to the boiler," which is the suspected point of origin for the explosion. Fire marshals and other agencies are now investigating the precise cause.
Evacuations and Next Steps
Residents in the "F" and "G" apartment lines of the affected building were evacuated out of an abundance of caution and directed to a temporary shelter set up at the Mitchel Community Center. Con Edison has shut off gas service to the entire complex while the Department of Buildings (DOB) conducts inspections to ensure the building remains structurally sound.
Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol stated that some demolition of the chimney remnants would be necessary to access the basement and begin work to restore heat, hot water, and cooking gas to the residents.
Public records show a partial stop-work order had been issued for the building by the DOB in June. Officials are now focused on ensuring the safety of the residents, who have expressed anxiety about the building's long-term stability.
"This is an all-hands-on-deck moment, and we avoided a major disaster here," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. "Although there is a lot of cleanup, I'm so grateful that no one lost their life."
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