An explosion rocked a Bronx high-rise Wednesday morning, causing the entire side of the 20-story building to collapse.
Videos show a gaping hole in the side of the building and extensive damage all along Alexander Avenue in the Mott Haven section of the borough.
The FDNY said it responded to a gas explosion, and that it appeared the building’s incinerator shaft may have collapsed. At this point, amazingly, no injuries have been reported.
Mayor Eric Adams joined officials at the scene for a live update.
“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,” the mayor said. “We are extremely fortunate, at this time, we have no loss of life or no injuries.”
CBS News New York
The explosion was reported around 8:10 a.m. Wednesday at 205 Alexander Ave., a residential high-rise in the Mitchel Houses.
One witness said she saw the smoke after dropping her kids off at school and called 911.
“The whole building just — you heard a loud boom, and the thing just exploded, and it fell down just like that,” she said.
According to the most recent NYCHA data, the housing complex has approximately 3,500 residents in 1,730 units across 10 residential buildings. It was completed in 1966 and encompasses two city blocks from East 135th to 137th streets.
CBS News New York 
Wednesday’s blast sent bricks, air conditioning units and other debris raining down onto nearby buildings and the sidewalk and street below. Water also appeared to be bubbling up from the ground, possibly from a damaged pipe.
“Somebody in the building next to me, they said that their window even fell, and it’s on the 16th floor,” said another witness who was inside with her son.
CBS News New York 
Firefighters could be seen digging through the rubble and using drones and dogs to make sure no one was trapped underneath.
“Luckily, as the mayor said, no one was injured. We ran our dogs over this pile of bricks that is behind us, which is the structure that collapsed — it is a ventilation shaft connected to the boiler, which collapsed. We believe that’s where the explosion occurred, but that’s going to be for our fire marshals and the NYPD and all of our investigative partners to investigate and explore,” said FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker.
Some Mitchel Houses apartments being evacuated
CBS News New York 
Officials say F and G apartments are being evacuated out of an abundance of caution.
Adams said other residents are being allowed back inside, but gas has been shut off for the entire complex and inspections are ongoing.
The FDNY, NYPD, Office of Emergency Management, Department of Buildings, NYCHA, Con Edison and other agencies all responded to the scene, and the Red Cross set up a support center for residents inside the Mitchel Community Center at 210 Alexander Ave.
Meanwhile, several nearby streets remain closed, and drivers are facing heavy delays around the area.
Check back soon for updates on this developing story.
contributed to this report.