A crane collapse occurred in midtown Manhattan on a Wednesday morning, resulting in at least five people injured, one of them being a firefighter, as reported by the FDNY’s emergency medical personnel.
Videos shared on social media captured the terrifying incident, showing the upper part of the crane collapsing, striking a nearby building, and then swinging back to hit the building that was still under construction.
According to the FDNY, three individuals were taken to local hospitals, but fortunately, their injuries were minor, as confirmed by Mayor Eric Adams during a press briefing.
The collapse happened shortly after a fire broke out in the crane’s engine, which was reported around 7:25 a.m., according to Joseph Pfeifer, the deputy commissioner of the FDNY.
Firefighters were already en route to the location, situated on 10th Avenue between West 41st and West 42nd streets, when they heard the collapse happening, said Pfeifer. The crash involved the top portion of the crane, the boom, and a 16-ton load.
Both Mayor Adams and Pfeifer acknowledged the potential severity of the situation and expressed gratitude that it was not worse, considering the incident occurred during a time when the area would typically be bustling with activity.
A considerable response effort was mobilized, with over 200 firefighters and emergency medical personnel present at the scene.
The building that was still under construction was intended to be a 54-story mixed-use building, as disclosed by Department of Buildings Commissioner James Oddo.
The Department of Buildings will conduct a thorough review of the incident to understand its cause and take necessary safety measures.
