11 Injured After Crane Partially Collapses Into Apartment Building Near Hudson Yards
Eleven people were reportedly injured after a construction crane near Hudson Yards in Manhattan partially collapsed, hitting a nearby building and sending debris tumbling to the street below.
A fire broke out on a crane on the construction site at 550 10th Ave. around 7:30 a.m., and video taken by bystanders showed a piece falling into the apartment building across the street. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, according to multiple reports.
WATCH: A bystander captures video of the moment the crane collapsed onto 10th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen. https://t.co/pBrIziAImS pic.twitter.com/QSMIRKzMVj
— Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) July 26, 2023
City Buildings Commissioner James Oddo said an investigation into the incident is underway, per reports.
Surrounding buildings were evacuated Wednesday morning as crews continued to hose the crane down. Residents, commuters and tourists stood on 10th Avenue and watched as emergency responders restricted access to several city blocks.
“I looked up and I saw the crane was on fire,” said a witness named Michael, who works in maintenance at the apartment building The Victory at 561 10th Ave. He was cleaning the sidewalk when the blaze broke out, he told Bisnow. He declined to share his last name.
“Everyone was standing around, taking pictures and video of the fire and then all of [the] sudden the crane … fell down on the building and into the middle of the street, so everyone was running and screaming,” he said. “We had to jump into the building and the debris was hitting the glass.”
A different angle captured here:
— nathaniel. (@1000buckz) July 26, 2023
pic.twitter.com/KT1d9frmyw
It appears the construction site involved in the incident was Gotham Organization's 47-story mixed-income apartment tower, which the developer's website says is expected to finish construction next year.
“While the cause of this incident is still under investigation, we are working collaboratively with the general contractor, FDNY and all necessary City agencies to learn more,” a spokesperson for Gotham Organization said in a statement. “We thank the FDNY, its dedicated firefighters, and other first responders on the scene for their rapid response and swift action.”
Monadnock Construction is the acting general contractor for the site, Gotham's spokesperson said.
“First and foremost, we understand that the workers involved are in stable condition," a Monadnock spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. "We want to acknowledge and thank the FDNY and the other first responders who were able to safely remove workers and any pedestrians from the location and secure the site. Safety is a priority for Monadnock Construction Inc. at this and every project. We are fully cooperating with all regulatory agencies and are available for any assistance that is needed. We are unable to provide any additional details regarding the incident at this time.”
The building hit by part of the crane was Extell Development and RXR Realty’s 555 10th Ave., a luxury apartment building. At first, according to eyewitnesses, responders had to hose the crane from 555 10th’s rooftop pool.
“It was really bad, the way everything fell, it was like I was back at 9/11,” Michael said. “Once they knew it was on fire, they shut the street down. I'm glad it happened, because around 9 or 10, the street is packed.”
A crane operator was hauling up 16 tons of concrete when he saw the fire start, New York Fire Department Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer said, NBC reported. He tried to stop the blaze, but was overwhelmed by the flames and left.
"That weight of 16 tons is attached by a cable. As the fire heats the cable, the cable weakens, to the point where it loses its strength, and that’s where the collapse occurred," Pfeifer said. "The top part of the crane, the boom and a 16-ton load crashed to the ground."
The Yotel Times Square at 570 10th Ave. was evacuated, as was the MiMa building on 42nd Street.
“[It was a] huge noise… I could see the black flames coming out and immediately the hotel people started making evacuation announcements,” said a woman named Abah, who is staying at Yotel. “We had to leave everything, but the best part is people are on their toes, they are doing a fabulous job, and within minutes it got extinguished.”
Officials expressed relief that no one was seriously injured; six years ago, when a crane collapsed in Tribeca, it killed one person and injured more than a dozen others. In 2020, a crane came loose at the luxury condominium development at 111 West 57th St., showering the street with glass and debris. The Department of Buildings stopped work there and issued a violation to the contractor, JDS Construction Group. In 2012, streets were shut down and buildings evacuated around Extell Development’s One57, then under construction, because of a loose crane.
“This could have been much worse,” Mayor Eric Adams told reporters at a press conference.
UPDATE, JULY 26, 1:35 P.M. ET: This story has been updated with additional information about the accident and accounts from witnesses at the scene.
UPDATE, JULY 26, 4 P.M. ET: This story has been updated to include a statement from Monadnock Construction.
