The fire broke out in the night from Saturday to Sunday (local time) in a 19-storey building. Among other things, a baby had to be rescued from the blaze that probably started in a lower part of the flat, the New York Post reports. According to some local media, at least one person who was fleeing the blaze jumped out of a window.
More than 40 people have already been rescued from the burning building, said the fire service, who are still trying to get people out of the building. The building consists of apartments that have been converted into two-storey residences and has areas that are difficult for firefighters to access. The new mayor Eric Adams has come to take a look on the spot.
On Wednesday, a large fire in a terraced house in downtown Philadelphia killed at least 12 people, including eight children.