MOTT HAVEN, Bronx (WABC) -- There were no reports of injuries after a gas explosion in the Bronx caused a partial collapse of a high-rise apartment building on Wednesday morning.

It happened at NYCHA's Mitchel Houses on Alexander Avenue in the Mott Haven section just after 8 a.m.

The explosion is believed to have occurred in the boiler, which collapsed the chimney structure, officials said.

WATCH VIDEO OF THE EXPLOSION AND COLLAPSE:

City officials held a press conference later Wednesday morning and said there were no fatalities or any injuries in connection to the incident.

"We avoided a major disaster here," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

The explosion collapsed the shaft of the 17-story building, which appeared to be an entire corner of the high-rise. The rest of the

See Full Page