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A 300-foot crane crashed onto a building under construction in Long Island City, Queens, around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, while lifting a load, the authorities said.

There were seven people injured, three of them seriously, according to fire officials. None of the injuries was life-threatening, they said. There was no immediate explanation for why the crane collapsed. The mangled red crane could be seen stretching hundreds of feet, having smashed into plywood and concrete on the site.

35 story crane just collapsed outside my window in Long Island City! The sound was horrific!!! http://t.co/0yENgsF1

— UnSweetTee (@UnSweetTee) 9 Jan 13

It is a mobile crane, often used in the early stages of construction.

The building under construction where the crane fell is 46-10 Vernon Boulevard, just behind the famous Pepsi-Cola sign on the East River.

Dozens of construction workers were at the site at the time of the accident.

The building is one of several luxury towers being developed by TF Cornerstone. Several neighboring buildings that are part of the project, known as EastCoast, are already completed and filled with residents.

The crane did not appear to have damaged any other buildings.

The concrete subcontractor, Cross County Contracting of Elmsford, N.Y., was responsible for the work currently underway, said Frank Marino, a spokesman for TF Cornerstone. The crane was leased from New York Crane.

The project will be a 26-story residential tower when completed.