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(UPDATE) Collapsed crane still dangling from West 57th St. highrise – Metro US

(UPDATE) Collapsed crane still dangling from West 57th St. highrise

UPDATE: A partially collapsed crane that terrified people near West 57 St. and Seventh Ave. for much of yesterday is still precariously dangling from a luxury highrise.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said this morning that city inspectors deemed the crane “secure” for now, though changing weather conditions could still effect safety for those in the area.

The crane, attached to a highrise apartment building under construction at 157 West 57th St. near Seventh Ave. in Manhattan, partially collapsed as wind speeds from Hurricane Sandy picked up yesterday afternoon, FDNY officials said.

The crane can still be seen dangling near the 70th floor of One57 tower. The top floors of the luxury highrise are under construction and surrounded by heavy scaffolding.

FDNY officials told Metro no injuries were reported. Police evacuated residents from the building, as well as surrounding buildings and the streets below the crane, according to the NYPD.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg addressed the possibility of hurricane damage to construction site Monday morning, warning that extreme winds could make for dangerous scenarios.

“We have worked very hard to make sure all cranes and construction sites are battered down, and we’ve had so far no indication of any debris blowing off a construction site,” Bloomberg said. “But as the winds get worse, our precautions get tested more, and you never know.”

He added, “There’s no reason to jeopardize your lives. It’s just dangerous to be out on the streets when the wind is this high.”