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Crane collapses on NYC apartments Deadly crane collapse in New York
(about 4 hours later)
A construction crane has toppled into apartment blocks in New York, killing at least four people and injuring 10, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said.A construction crane has toppled into apartment blocks in New York, killing at least four people and injuring 10, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said.
He told reporters that three of the injured were in a serious condition.He told reporters that three of the injured were in a serious condition.
He said the collapsing crane - which had stood 19 storeys high - "basically just flattened" a low-rise apartment building on Manhattan's East Side.He said the collapsing crane - which had stood 19 storeys high - "basically just flattened" a low-rise apartment building on Manhattan's East Side.
The area has been evacuated, and a rescue operation is under way amid reports that people are trapped. The area has been evacuated, and a rescue operation is under way amid fears that people are trapped.
John PlaGreco, who owns Fu Bar in the crushed low-rise building, said he feared one of his employees was dead in the rubble. Mr Bloomberg described the incident as a "tragic event" and said the crane had broken during a routine operation to extend its height, by inserting a section and raising its top part.
"Our bar is done," he said. "The crane crashed the whole building. If I wasn't watching a Yankees game, I would've come to work early and gotten killed." "This accident is one of the worst the city has had," Mr Bloomberg said.
Residents of the area reported hearing a terrible roar as the crane collapsed. I heard a big crash, and I saw dust immediately. Bricks were flying through the air Maureen Shey, eyewitness "Our thoughts go to the families. I hope we will not find other victims."
"First I heard a rumble, and it increased, and then it increased," said Bill Reilly, who lives nearby. "It continued building in strength... It shook the six-storey brick building that I live in." "Everybody was running, running. It was devastating," witness Greta Welkhammer told local TV station NY1.
The crane "literally split in half", she said.
John PlaGreco, who owns Fu Bar in the crushed low-rise building, told the Associated Press he feared one of his employees was dead in the rubble.
A witnesses said the crane broke in half"Our bar is done," he said. "The crane crashed the whole building. If I wasn't watching a Yankees game, I would've come to work early and gotten killed."
The collapse also overturned and crushed cars, left rubble piled high and caused a huge dust cloud to rise over the neighbourhood.
Firefighters with sniffer dogs were scouring the rubble for signs of further victims.
Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said the search was "a painstaking hand operation, as we try to remove the rubble so we don't cause further collapse or injure anyone who may still be in that building".
Load roar
Stephen Kaplan, an owner of the Reliance Construction Group, told AP the company had contracted the work out to another company and described the incident as "an absolute freak accident".
Ten people were injured - three were said to be seriously hurtHe said a piece of steel fell and sheared off one of the ties holding the crane to the building, causing it to detach and topple.
Residents of the area reported hearing a loud roar as the crane came down.
"First I heard a rumble, and it increased, and then it increased," said Bill Reilly, who lives nearby. "It continued building in strength... it shook the six-storey brick building that I live in."
Maureen Shey, who lives opposite the under-construction building from which the crane fell, said: "I heard a big crash, and I saw dust immediately. Bricks were flying through the air.Maureen Shey, who lives opposite the under-construction building from which the crane fell, said: "I heard a big crash, and I saw dust immediately. Bricks were flying through the air.
"I saw the whole thing. I thought the crane was coming in my window.""I saw the whole thing. I thought the crane was coming in my window."
The crane missed her building.The crane missed her building.
Are you in the area where the crane collapsed? Did you witness it fall? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:Are you in the area where the crane collapsed? Did you witness it fall? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:
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