On Wednesday, an explosion ripped through part of a public housing building in the south Bronx.

“The first boom sounded like construction,” resident Kiyami Fields said. “The second one was very, very loud and shook the whole entire building. I heard people screaming. It was very terrifying.”

What You Need To Know

On Wednesday, an explosion ripped through part of a public housing building in the south Bronx

Crews said the chimney shaft collapsed, damaging the F and G apartments at NYCHA’s Mitchel Houses in Mott Haven

Dozens of families have been displaced. For those allowed back inside, they’re now without water, heat or gas

According to officials, one theory points to the building’s heating system as the cause, but they caution it’s too early to know for sure

Crews said the chimney shaft collapsed, damaging the F and G apartments at NYCHA’s Mitchel Houses in Mott Haven.

Dozens of families have been displaced. For those allowed back inside, they’re now without water, heat or gas.

NY1 spoke one-on-one with Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol, who’s leading the city’s response.

“[We’re] very, very lucky nobody was hurt. Our primary objective right now is just making sure everybody’s safe. We’re trying to get people back into the building. Most of the units are now reoccupied,” Iscol said.

But even as inspections continue, the investigation is still underway.

Officials said one theory points to the building’s heating system, but they caution it’s too early to know for sure.

“We had to shut off [the gas], which impacted the entire Mitchel Houses complex,” Iscol said. “So, we’re bringing in a mobile boiler. We have ConEd that’s working on restoring gas. That’s probably going to take a couple of days to get heat, hot water and gas back up and running for everybody.”

Fields said there’s been years of warning signs. The tenant said she lives directly above the boiler room and has reported the smell of gas to NYCHA.

“I don’t want to come back here. I just want to get my stuff in there. I would rather they transferred me to another unit,” Fields said.

Standing beside her daughter, Renea Fields said it’s a miracle no one was injured, or worse, killed.

“I thank God. For the old mighty God that protected everybody, every single family in that building,” Fields said.

Street closures are expected for weeks, according to officials.

Families said the bigger question is when they’ll feel safe sleeping in their homes again.