DEVELOPING STORY: At least 19 people are dead, including nine children in a horrific high rise inferno that broke out Sunday morning in the Bronx.
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“The numbers are horrific,” Mayor Eric Adams said. ““This is going to be one of the worst fires that we have witnessed during modern times.”
Firefighters arrived at the five-alarm fire within three minutes and encountered smoke that extended the entire height of the 19-story building, fire commissioner Daniel A. Nigro told The New York Times.
He added that “the smoke conditions in this building were unprecedented,” and that victims had suffered from severe smoke inhalation.
Watch video of the fire and rescues below.
Crews entering the building found victims “on every floor” and were taking them out in “cardiac and respiratory arrest,” he said.
More than 60 people were injured in the fire. A number of residents were reportedly seen jumping out of windows to escape the smoke and flames.
Harrowing images from the scene show a firefighter cradling a baby rescued from the fire, a victim on a stretcher, and a woman sitting on the ground being helped by paramedics with soot on her face.
Firefighters say the blaze does not appear to be intentional.
Breaking: At least 19 dead, dozens injured, in Bronx apartment building fire. pic.twitter.com/L5wFaknLla
— Terry (@KCVeteran4thIVY) January 9, 2022
Update: #Bronx Fire
— The Modern Times of Long Beach ? (@ModernTimesLB) January 9, 2022
31 people were seriously injured in an #NewYorkCity 5-alarm apartment fire.
?There are reports that people were seen jumping from the building to escape the blaze.
?#FDNY expects multiple fatalitiespic.twitter.com/9kRaVPfAr9