A massive gas explosion blew a huge chunk out of a Bronx public housing building on Wednesday morning, sending bricks raining down onto the sidewalk and leaving a huge hole in the facade.
The explosion took place at 8 a.m. at the high-rise Mitchel Houses project on Alexander Avenue near East 135th Street, leaving a huge 20-story gash alongside the building’s corner, and sending firefighters scrambling to the scene, according to officials.
One of the residents shared how they heard something like the building was moving. ‘I heard a huge boom and I thought to myself, what is this?’- he mentioned.
He then wondered if they had been struck by an earthquake, as that’s what it felt like to some, and then everything began shaking really quickly.
Tenant Linda Duke shared how she fled down five flights of stairs with assistance from one younger resident, who managed to carry her on his back.
‘You want to know how loud that was? Get a firecracker and light that and listen to it!’- another resident shared. There were sounds of people hollering and asking for help that could be heard from all directions. Another mentioned how they could only see smoke and nothing else and that terrified them to the core.