A building undergoing demolition work on West 38thStreet partially collapsed late Friday morning, according to the FDNY, killing one construction worker and trapping another in rubble.
That person was pulled from the wreckage hours later, and is expected to surivive, officials said. The body of the man who was killed remained in the rubble, officials said, because the structure was dangerous. The FDNY responded to a call at 10:28 a.m., sending 12 units and 65 personnel to 25 W. 38 St. in Midtown.
The cause of the collapse was under investigation, officials said.
Surrounding streets were closed off. Officials said the collapse didn’t impact subway service.
As always, new Yorkers are pissed that streets are closed pic.twitter.com/lAV3FfMVi3
— Wendy J. Biddlecombe (@WJBreports) October 30, 2015
Ladder reaches up to 2nd or 3rd floor window pic.twitter.com/Jje2mecGou
— Wendy J. Biddlecombe (@WJBreports) October 30, 2015
By 12:45 p.m., NYPD Community Affairs was escorting people past the fire lines. The building collapse site appeared secure.
One worker in a nearby building told Metro she heard a “rumble” before the collapse.
The building was undergoing demolition work in preparation for the opening of Aloft New York Midtown, a Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc hotel, which was expected to open at the site in May 2018, according to the company’s website. New Yorkers nearby shared their shock and confusion on Twitter.
This happened right now next to our building. The whole block is closed off but everyone at 29 West 38th is okay…. https://t.co/Ir1ph7Q97b
— Lissette Espaillat (@actressoncall) October 30, 2015
i just saw a building collapse in nyc…
— katie addams (@katieeaddams) October 30, 2015
Just walked by 5th Ave & 38th St in NYC, a million sirens and fire trucks – what’s going on?
— Kristen S Anderson (@KSoltisAnderson) October 30, 2015
Stay with Metro as this story develops.
Reuters contributed to this report.
