New York.- One person lost their life and 14 others suffered injuries after an explosion caused a five-alarm fire in an apartment building in the Norwood section of The Bronx, mobilizing more than 300 members of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and emergency services.
The incident occurred around 12:30 PM on Wednesday in a five-story building located at 374 East 209th Street. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters found an intense fire concentrated on the second floor, while a powerful explosion had destroyed windows and doors, complicating rescue efforts and the extinguishing of the flames.
Authorities reported that among the injured are six firefighters, three of them in serious condition. In addition, part of the structure collapsed when the third floor gave way onto the second, forcing emergency teams to withdraw momentarily before resuming operations.
The Fire Department indicated that the cause of the explosion remains under investigation and, as of now, it has not been confirmed if it was related to a gas leak. Specialists remain on the scene collecting evidence to establish the origin of the incident.
As a consequence of the fire, the authorities issued an eviction order for the property due to concerns about its structural stability. The Red Cross provided emergency assistance to the affected families, including temporary housing, after dozens of residents had to leave their homes.
