Partial building collapse in the Bronx sends bricks crashing down onto street
SOUTH BRONX (WABC) -- A partial building collapse in the Bronx Wednesday afternoon sent bricks crashing down to the street below.
The incident happened just before 3 p.m. at Empire Paper Enterprises, a two-story paper manufacturing warehouse on East 140th Street in the South Bronx.
Part of the building's roof came down, sending the bricks onto Walnut Avenue and causing extensive damage to several cars.
Chunks of concrete were scattered across the street.
"Out of nowhere, the building just started falling," one witness said. "I thought it was an earthquake."
Luckily no one was injured.
"We were taking a nap there yesterday, 12 o'clock, so you know it could've been us in that car, thank God," vehicle owner Richie Racioppi said.
Department of Buildings inspectors were on the scene and determined that the overall structure of the building is stable.
The DOB issued a violation to the property owner for failure to maintain the building, and issued a partial vacate order for the second floor and mezzanine.
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