More than 50 people were injured, including around 30 who were in critical condition, in an apartment building fire in the Bronx, New York.
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According to the New York Fire Department, the flames originated around 11 a.m. in a 19-story building, spreading to the second and third floors.
Courtesy Twitter / FDNY
Everything suggests that the fire started in a dwelling whose door remained open. Thick smoke then spread throughout the building, summed up a spokesperson for the fire department, Daniel Nigro, according to comments relayed by the CNN channel.
In doing so, the smoke transformed the stairwells into veritable traps for the inhabitants of the building who sought to evacuate. Dozens of victims, including several in cardiopulmonary arrest, were found in the steps, suffocated by the smoke which spread in the stairwells.
Courtesy Twitter / FDNY
At least 54 people were injured, including 32 who were in critical condition. According to Mr Nigro, it could be one of the metropolis’ worst fatal fires in recent years.
More than 200 firefighters responded to the scene and were able to quickly bring the fire under control, the fire department said.