The city’s new mayor Eric Adams announced at the scene that at least 19 people were killed and at least 60 were injured Sunday in a building fire in New York’s Bronx district.
“It will be one of the worst fires in our history. We know 19 people have died and many more are in critical condition and 63 have been injured,” Eric Adams told television live.
The new mayor of New York, a former African-American police officer who took office on January 1, spoke of a real tragedy “not just for the Franks and the city.”
Later, Eric Adams confirmed on Twitter that he had lost “nine young innocent lives”, nine of the 19 deaths were children and adolescents.
Today we lost 19 neighbors. This is immeasurable tragedy. Join me in praying for those we have lost, especially the 9 innocent young people who have been cut off. https://t.co/YWQyBLyLK8
– Mayor Eric Adams (NYCMayor) January 9, 2022
Fire caused by insulation heater
Investigators “determined that the fire from the bedroom and sub-heater was caused by material sources and first witnesses from residents,” the city’s fire chief said at the time. A press conference at the base of the building.
In the images circulating on social networks, huge flames and thick black smoke billowed from the window of a building in the Franks, a large neighborhood in New York.
Victims were found on each floor of the 19-story brick building, while firefighters said a fire broke out in the duplex apartment on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
New videos show smoke coming out of a horrific fire that broke out in an apartment building in New York City, killing 19 people. According to authorities, including nine children. https://t.co/JPO13Cafbv pic.twitter.com/mlsK9BCE98
– ABC News (ABC) January 9, 2022
About 200 firefighters were concentrated on the site in the middle. First, firefighters reported about thirty people were injured.
The big housing crisis
Last Wednesday, 12 people, including 8 children, were killed in a devastating fire in an apartment building in Philadelphia.
New York City, home to nine million people, has been hit by a major housing crisis in various neighborhoods, sometimes with dilapidated and poorly maintained buildings.
afp / aes