House collapse threatens other buildings

A vacant, multifamily house partially collapsed last night in East Boston, sending bricks and other debris into the street and possibly forcing the evacuation of neighboring houses. Steve MacDonald, a Boston Fire Department spokesman, said the collapse of 47 Chelsea St., a three-story, four-unit property, occurred shortly after 11 p.m. He said a building next door was evacuated earlier in the week because of structural concerns about the vacant house, and authorities were trying to determine late last night whether residents would be forced to leave other houses on the street. No injuries were reported.