Explosion and evacuation of Chinatown building

From NY1:

Fire investigators are looking into the cause of an explosion and partial collapse that injured nearly a dozen people Thursday in Chinatown.

It happened shortly before 1 p.m. inside a ground-level beauty shop located at 17 Pike Street near the Manhattan Bridge.

The fire department says at least eight people were being treated for injuries, three of which are said to be serious.

Four firefighters were also injured.

All were taken to area hospitals.

Witnesses at the scene say they first heard an explosion and felt the ground shake around the five-story walk up.

All tenants have been evacuated as a precaution.

Fire officials say the building had several violations on record.

And then this:

Sources say a common pest control tool could be to blame for a fiery explosion and partial collapse of a building in Chinatown.

Sources tell NY1 that fire officials are looking into the fact that several bug foggers, commonly known as "roach bombs," were found at the site of the Pike Street building.

Check out its past history here and here.

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Coney Island structure unstable

From Eyewitness News:

Luna Park on Coney Island was evacuated Tuesday as investigators checked out a report that the "Astrotower" was swaying.

The fire department, buildings department, and Office of Emergency Management are working together on sorting this out.

Witnesses say it wasn't windy, drawing more attention to the swaying structure.

Emergency crews evacuated Coney Island's Luna Park Tuesday afternoon after getting frantic calls saying the Astrotower, a 270 foot tall, 50-year-old structure, was swaying and possibly unstable.

UPDATE from NY1:

Luna Park officials say a portion of the iconic Astrotower will be removed beginning Wednesday evening, after the structure was first spotted swaying heavily Tuesday.
The city Office of Emergency Management said Wednesday that cranes and heavy equipment need to be moved in for the work to start, and that the goal is to get started on the removal Wednesday night.

It is unclear how large of a portion of the tower will be removed.

Earlier, Luna Park officials said the park owners were working on permits with the city Parks Department to take down the structure.

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Heavy rain causes wall collapse

From Eyewitness News:

Dozens of people had to be evacuated Saturday morning when a retaining wall collapsed in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan.

The residents were evacuated from an apartment building on Cabrini Avenue, after the collapse at a building behind it on Pinehurst Avenue.

The building manager says a fire escape was ripped off a wall of the apartment building.

About 100 residents were displaced by the 4 a.m. collapse, which affected 35 apartments in all that face the rear courtyard.

It is still unclear when they will be allowed back into their building.

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