14 injured in Manhattan apartment inferno

At least 14 persons have been injured in a fire at an apartment building in Manhattan in New York City.

The blaze is believed to have started by a toaster in the kitchen of a second-floor apartment of the six-storey building on Riverside Drive in Washington Heights, the local media reported citing, Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Commissioner, Daniel Nigro, as saying.

The fire then quickly spread to the top floors through a dumbwaiter shaft.

It took over 200 firefighters to knock out a massive fire.

The firefighters had a difficulty knocking out the fire in very cold conditions, according to Nigro.

Red Cross teams were reportedly present at the scene, registering dozens of affected residents.

Authorities advised nearby residents to close windows and avoid smoke.

The building is almost a century-old and houses 133 apartments, according to reports.