20 March 2024 , 13:40
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A skyscraper in New York near the 9/11 memorial is on fire this morning, as crews rush to the scene.
The fire broke out this morning near Greenwich Street in Manhattan, near the Financial District. Pictures and videos across social media show huge clouds of black smoke billowing from the top of the building on 125 Greenwich Street.
Helicopters could also be seen circling the building as smoke rose from the building's rooftop. At least two New York Fire Department crews were spotted at the scene along with an ambulance. While the cause of the fire is not yet confirmed, some outlets are reporting that it is coming from the building's HVAC system.
Firefighters gather in lower Manhattan near Ground Zero in response to a fire at a luxury high rise under construction today (Getty Images)According to the Citizen app, no one was injured, and the fire seemed to be under control by about 10.10am EDT. It reportedly began just before 9.30am.
Crowds of people gathered at the junction of Greenwich Street and Liberty Street as the smoke continued to ascend from the towering building. 125 Greenwich Street, which is also known as 22 Thames Street, is a residential skyscraper just two blocks south of the One World Trade Center.
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A skyscraper is reportedly on fire in downtown New York
Huge plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the buildingDaily Express US has reported that between 300-500 construction workers were in the building when the fire started but there has been no confirmation of an evacuation in the financial district building so far.
One metal worker named Louis told Daily Express US: "All I know is there was a fire."
Smoke can be seen from across the river in Brooklyn, in a terrifying plume.
While there were no reported injuries, local streets were closed, creating disruption for commuters and tourists in the area (Getty Images)The skyscraper remains under construction after initially 'topping out' in 2019. Not long after they topped out, teams had to pause their work and it remained unfinished until 2023, when developers secured a $313 million (£246.5M) loan. Construction is expected to be finished this year.
Architect Rafael Viñoly designed the structure, and it is described as one of his last works. It contains 272 units, according to Street Easy, a New York City-based apartment-hunting app, and the luxurious units range from $1.1 million to about $5.2 million for studios to two-bedroom homes.
(Alex Wellman)
(Alex Wellman)Viñoly, a Uruguayan architect, is known for landmarks around the world, including 432 Park Avenue in New York City, 20 Fenchurch Street in London and other buildings worldwide, including in Buenos Aires and Tokyo. He died in March 2023. The building was expected to be home to luxury amenities such as an indoor lap pool, a spa, a fitness centre, and a private club with stunning city views.