Crane collapse traps residents in New York appartment, two dead

New York - A construction crane crashed into a high-rise appartment building in New York killing at least two people and trapping dozens of residents Friday, authorities said.

The building in Manhattan's Upper East Side was heavily damaged as dozens of floors collapsed into the street on First Avenue and 91st Street. It was not clear how many people were trapped as firefighters worked furiously to rescue them.

'You know, we have inspectors out,' said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. 'I mean, it's construction is dangerous, but this is just unacceptable and intolerable. What happened in this case, I have no idea. We're going to find out.'

On March 15, a crane collapse killed seven people in mid-town Manhattan, forcing the city's Department of Building to review policies about use of cranes in construction that has sprouted up throughout the metropolis.

News reports said construction-related accidents in New York had killed 13 people in 2007.