A major explosion and fire erupted inside an apartment building in the Bronx, New York, USA, resulting in at least one fatality and 15 injuries, including several firefighters.
The New York City Fire Department reported receiving calls about an explosion and fire at a residential building on East 209th Street around 12:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday. The fire started on the third floor and quickly spread, prompting an escalation to a level 5 fire response and deployment of over 300 firefighters and emergency medical personnel to control the situation.
The blast caused multiple doors to be blown off their frames and led to the partial collapse of some floors, allowing flames to spread across at least three floors. Firefighters had to temporarily withdraw from certain areas after the third-floor apartments began to collapse, prioritizing their safety.
According to the latest reports, 15 people were injured, including six firefighters—three critically and three with minor injuries. Additionally, at least two civilians are in critical condition, two others are seriously injured, and among the injured are children. One adult fatality has been confirmed, though authorities have not released further details.
The explosion and fire forced the evacuation of at least 18 residents. Officials expect firefighting operations to continue until evening due to extreme heat and structural damage from the blast, which complicates efforts to control the fire.
Initially, utility companies shut off electricity and gas to the building to ensure safety. Meanwhile, authorities are actively investigating the cause of the explosion and fire.
/source:NBC New York
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