By Natalia Rueda 
A chaotic scene unfolded in Midtown Manhattan Wednesday morning when a construction crane suddenly erupted in flames and collapsed onto a nearby high-rise. The incident left six people injured and the area surrounding 550 Tenth Ave. in disarray.
Terrifying video taken by nearby bystanders showed the frightening scene that unfolded just meters away from Central Park and the Empire State Building. Witnesses reported that the crane arm extended to an approximate height of 120 meters before crashing into the building. Seconds later, it fell near a street where dozens of passers-by were walking and running away.
The FDNY responded quickly to the incident that witnesses described as being reminiscent of a lighting strike or explosion, with over 200 personnel on the scene. According to FDNY First Deputy Fire Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer, the crane operator had been lifting 16 tons of concrete when a fire erupted in the engine compartment. He attempted to put out the flames using a fire extinguisher, but was forced to flee when it spread quickly.
The top portion of the massive crane then collapsed, striking 555 Tenth Avenue before crashing to the street below. Many panicked New Yorkers scrambled for safety as debris flew onto the street. Those injured in the incident, which included two firefighters and four others hit by falling debris, fortunately all had minor injuries.
Mayor Eric Adams later visited the scene and stated, “You see the debris on the street, this could have been much worse. We were fortunate that this was not a busy time of day.” NYPD urged New Yorkers to avoid the area, and Governor Kathy Hochul later released a statement regarding the collapse.
In response to the incident, 10th and 11th Avenue have been shut down and the NYPD has asked those present to avoid the area. #manhattan #newyorkcity #fires #midtown