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Video Shows Construction Crane Catching Fire, Collapsing in New York City The accident occurred in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Disaster struck near midtown Manhattan early Wednesday morning after a construction crane collapsed and struck a building, starting a massive fire.

The accident happened around 7:30 a.m. at a building site at 550 10th Avenue near 41st Street in Hell's Kitchen.

When the fire broke out, the crane operator was still inside the unit, according to reports. Six people, including two firefighters, reportedly have non-life-threatening injuries.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Horrifying footage of the incident shows the top of the machinery detaching and crashing into the side of an adjacent high-rise building as onlookers and witnesses begin to scream and sprint away.

Black smoke and flames can be seeming flying from the platform of the crane, which authorities have called a five-alarm fire.

Images shared on social media by the NYC Mayor's office show the damage and collapsed pieces of the crane in the middle of the street.

Nearby buildings were evacuated following the initial collapse.

FDNY is urging residents to avoid the area and to expect traffic delays and excess smoke.

This is a developing story.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

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