Citizen Summary

Updates

**UPDATE: Firefighters confirmed late Thursday night that the crane was secure and there were no injuries.**

**According to the FDNY, an unsecured cable caused the debris. “The Rescue Company got up to the upper floors of the building and realized that there was a tower crane with a cable hanging from the boom that was a little lower than it should have been, and it was spinning around and hitting the building, and knocking debris down into the street,” FDNY Assistant Chief John Hodgens said from the scene.**

**Hodgens said the crane operator was able to get into the crane and secure the cable that was loose.**

**Citizen user video showed the scene continuing to be blocked off Friday morning.**

*Read the full story below.*

Emergency personnel blocked traffic in Midtown after debris fell onto the street below from atop a supertall building on Billionaires’ Row on Thursday night.

An FDNY spokesperson said firefighters were dispatched to 111 West 57th Street around 6:42 p.m. Although the incident was reported to the fire department as being related to a crane, the FDNY stated there was no crane collapse.

A spokesperson for the Department of Buildings said around 9:30 p.m. inspectors were still investigating what caused the material to fall. The spokesperson confirmed the crane is stable.

The address in question is the location of an 84-story supertall skyscraper currently under construction above the historic Steinway Building. It is advertised as the thinnest skyscraper in the world.

Dozens of Citizen users in the neighborhood shared video showing the street blocked off, emergency vehicles blocking traffic, and debris in the road.

Some videos showed a crane “weathervaning” in the wind. The Department of Buildings confirmed this is normal behavior for tower cranes, meant to reduce wind resistance and increase stability. It is unclear if the crane may have accidentally knocked down or dislodged material as it rotated.

Soon after arriving, first responders began securing the area. They eventually blocked vehicular and pedestrian traffic from 55th Street to 59th Street, from Madison Avenue to 8th Avenue.

Firefighters requested F trains bypass the nearby 57th Street station on 6th Avenue.

Shortly after 8 p.m., a spokesperson for the FDNY said at least 110 personnel from about 30 units were involved in the response.

No injuries have been reported.

Debris Fell From Skyscraper on Billionaires' Row

Emergency personnel are responding to a report of debris falling from a building to the street.

Incident reported at 6th Ave & W 57th St.

The address reported for this incident has changed to 146 W 57th St.

There is reportedly a problem with a crane.

Video from a Citizen user shows emergency personnel on the scene.

Police officers are shutting down pedestrian traffic in the area.

Firefighters are requesting specialized units to the scene.

The FDNY has transmitted an "all hands" alert, meaning all units on scene are actively working to bring the situation under control.

Police are responding to the scene to block pedestrian traffic.

Additional units are being request to assist with blocking off the scene.

Firefighters are calling for a major emergency response to the scene.

Firefighters report no one has been injured.

Firefighters are requesting trains bypass the station.

The address reported for this incident has changed to 111 W 57th St.

Police are blocking vehicular and pedestrian traffic from 55 St to 59 St, Madison Ave to 8th Ave.

Firefighters report the debris and crane are now stable.

Firefighters doubt they can bring the incident under control with current resources on scene.

A search of multiple floors did not locate anyone trapped nor injured.

The Building Department is on scene assessing the situation according to firefighters.

Citizen user video shows NYPD cars continuing to block traffic near W 57th St & 7th Ave.