• Part of a 20-storey apartment building in the Bronx collapsed at 8:10 AM on October 1.
• No injuries were reported, and authorities suspect a gas explosion may have triggered the incident.
• Mayor Eric Adams and emergency officials investigated the scene, urging residents to avoid the area.
• The building is part of city-owned public housing with ongoing investigations into prior safety violations.
• Incinerator shafts in high-rises, once common for waste disposal, are now being phased out with newer trash systems.

On October 1, part of a 20-storey residential building in the Bronx collapsed around 8:10 AM, with witnesses reporting a loud explosion prior to the event. Firefighters and emergency responders swiftly arrived on the scene, confirming no immediate injuries, although video footage showed a significant portion of the building reduced to rubble. Mayor Eric Adams stated, "Please avoid the area for your safety," emphasizing ongoing assessments of the situation, according to SCMP and BBC.

Authorities suspect the collapse stemmed from a gas explosion linked to an incinerator shaft within the Mitchel Houses complex. Witnesses described the incident as an “explosion” that led to the corner of the structure falling into a pile of debris. Emergency responders included firefighters and utility crews who established a safety perimeter around the site as investigations began, according to India Times and Channel News Asia.

Although the incident caused significant structural damage, officials reported that no residential units were impacted directly. The complex, operated by the city's Housing Authority, has been the subject of investigations into several prior safety violations relating to plumbing and building maintenance, raising questions about the ongoing safety of its structures. As of now, the city has not confirmed the specific cause of the explosion, with further inquiries anticipated, according to SCMP, BBC, and India Times.