An elderly woman was killed and other residents and police officers were injured when a home in the Bronx exploded this morning, causing a massive fire and the collapse of a building, FDNY officials said.
The fire destroyed a three-story home on 869 Fox St. near Intervale Ave. in the Longwood neighborhood, around 10: 50 am It was also reported that ConEdison would shut off the gas supply in the immediate area along Fox St. between Intervale Ave and Tiffany St.
The tragedy was caused by an explosion of gas inside a house, according to councilor Rafael Salamanca. An elderly woman aged 100 died and another aged 77 was seriously injured, police said. A woman aged 68 is in stable condition. The three victims were rushed to Lincoln Hospital, where the oldest died.
The son of one victim said his mother and aunt were inside the building at the time of the explosion and he was now in a local hospital awaiting news of his condition. Five police officers were also taken to Lincoln Hospital for smoke inhalation after rescuing residents.
The explosion is believed to have been caused by a gas explosion, according to police sources and local elected officials. More than 100 firefighters, EMTs and paramedics attended the scene.
When the firemen began to pour water on the fire, the building began to collapse and the front facade fell on a gray van parked outside. The fire also spread to a neighboring house, detailed Daily News.
ConEdison experts They arrived on the scene to help determine exactly how the explosion occurred.
Today’s tragedy occurred less than two weeks after a massive fire also in the Bronx caused the death of 10 people, including 8 children, on January 9. It was the largest fire tragedy in New York since 1990 and also one of the worst nationally in several decades.