MOTT HAVEN, Bronx (WABC) — Repair crews on Thursday took apart what was left of the ventilation shaft that collapsed after an explosion at an apartment building in the Bronx on Wednesday.
It has prompted elected officials to call on the federal government to do more to keep public housing tenants safe.
The explosion happened at NYCHA’s Mitchel Houses on Alexander Avenue in the Mott Haven section just after 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
It is believed to have occurred in the boiler, causing the chimney structure to collapse, officials said.
WATCH VIDEO OF THE EXPLOSION AND COLLAPSE:
New video shows the Bronx building partially collapse after a gas explosion.
No one was injured, but for residents, Thursday was day two of trying to adjust to their new normal. For some, they are still out of their apartments and others are wondering when their heat, hot water and gas for cooking will come back.
A community meeting between tenants and NYCHA was held on Thursday night, with apologies and promises being made by NYCHA.
“We’re here for you 24/7. We’re going to be working with you to get all the services back restored, get folks home and to do things appropriately and that’s what our number one mission is right now,” said NYCHA Executive Vice President Dan Greene.
Apologies and promises were made Thursday night by NYCHA following the blast at a high-rise building in the Bronx.
In the meantime, there are demands that some long-term fixes be addressed.
“I don’t feel safe, I even panic…I had panic attacks the whole day yesterday,” resident Merlyn Olivo said.
Olivo and her daughter spent the last night in a hotel. Their apartment on the F line sits right next to the ventilation shaft that exploded and collapsed.
It remains unclear how long they will be displaced.
“They just say we’re gonna fix it, you’re gonna be in Friday, now they are saying Monday, so maybe every day they will change their story,” Olivo said.
Crews worked through the night to remove loose bricks that were still attached to the 20-story building at 205 Alexander Avenue.
And inside dozens of new doors had to be installed — replacing those that were forced open by firefighters during the initial search.
Other fixes are taking shape.
“The portable boilers arrived last night, we hope that we should have heat and hot water later on tonight, it takes a while, about 18 hours to hook that up, we want to make sure it’s done correctly,” said Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Kaz Daughtry.
It’s believed the ignition of a pilot light to fire up a faulty boiler triggered the explosion.
As the investigation continues, tenant groups and elected officials are demanding the state and federal government step up funding for critical repairs needed not only at the Mitchel Houses, but at NYCHA properties throughout the city.
“When you defund the bricks and roofs, the boilers and the elevators, you are creating dangerous conditions,” said Rep. Ritchie Torres.
Those long-term questions remain unanswered for now.
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