A construction crane caught fire and collapsed in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning, damaging a residential building across the street and injuring six people, according to the New York Fire Department.
(Bloomberg) — A construction crane caught fire and collapsed in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning, damaging a residential building across the street and injuring six people, according to the New York Fire Department.
After trying to extinguish the fire, the crane operator was able to escape and is safe, according to the FDNY. Two of the six people hurt were firefighters, and all of the injuries were minor, Mayor Eric Adams said.
“This could have been much worse,” Adams said at a news briefing. “We are extremely fortunate that it wasn’t during a busy time of day.”
The crane collapsed at 550 10th Ave. around 7:25 a.m., and it wasn’t known if the building was occupied at the time. Video appeared to show the crane crashing into 555 10th Avenue, a luxury apartment complex across the street. A three-bedroom apartment on the 52nd floor of 555 is available for rent for $11,500 a month.
Traffic is closed around 10th and 11th Avenues between 41st and 42nd Streets, near the Hudson Yards neighborhood, according to a tweet from the New York Police Department at 7:55 a.m. Those nearby have been advised by authorities to keep clear of the area and to keep windows shut.
(Updates with details on injuries in second paragraph)
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