Crane Collapse with Deafening Noise at 45 Floors High... Manhattan Morning Commute Nightmare

Fire Occurs in Engine Section... Structure Collapse
At Least 11 Injured... Fortunately, No Serious Injuries

In Manhattan, the financial hub of New York, USA, part of a large tower crane collapsed, causing numerous injuries.

According to the US media outlet 'The New York Times (NYT)' on the 26th (local time), a fire broke out in the engine section of a tower crane installed at a construction site on 10th Avenue near the Lincoln Tunnel in Manhattan around 7:30 a.m. As a result, part of the 45-story tower crane collapsed.

At the time, the tower crane was transporting 16 tons (t) of concrete. The crane operator tried to extinguish the fire on the engine with a fire extinguisher but was unsuccessful and eventually had to escape. The tower crane was soon engulfed in flames.

Crane collapsing at a height of 45 floors. [Image source=Twitter account affordanything]

The structure part that was towing the cargo from the tower crane eventually collapsed and fell onto the road. During this process, part of the crane structure also damaged a nearby building by covering it.

There were also eyewitness accounts that the ground shook and a loud noise echoed as the crane collapsed. An office worker at a nearby building told the media, "The leaning crane fell as if in slow motion." Another citizen said, "There was a loud explosion," and witnessed the flames.

About 50 people, including crane workers, were at the accident site. According to local fire authorities, at least 11 people were injured in the accident, including 2 firefighters and 9 civilians. Fortunately, none of the injuries were reported to be severe. One firefighter was transported to a nearby hospital complaining of chest pain.

The scene of extinguishing the fire in the engine where the fire broke out [Image source=New York Fire Department]

The New York City government completely blocked traffic on 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue, where the accident occurred, and deployed 200 firefighters to the scene. The fire on the crane was reported to have been extinguished in 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Joseph Pfeifer, Deputy Commissioner of the New York Fire Department, stated regarding the accident, "It could have caused much greater damage."