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Falling Ice Hits Pedestrians Near Rockefeller Center

By  Gustavo Solis and Aidan Gardiner | April 16, 2014 12:49pm | Updated on April 16, 2014 1:02pm

 Fist-sized chunks of ice fell off 30 Rock and hit tourists below Wednesday.
Fist-sized chunks of ice fell off 30 Rock and hit tourists below Wednesday.
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DNAinfo/Gustavo Solis

ROCKEFELLER CENTER — At least five people were hit by fist-sized chunks of falling ice at Rockefeller Center Wednesday morning, as the city thawed out from the overnight cold snap, officials and witnesses said.

Police and security cleared people off the southern sidewalk of 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues about noon after ice chunks plummeting from the 70-story 30 Rock skyscraper struck some of those in line for the building's Top of the Rock Observation Deck.

Emergency officials were first called to the scene at 11 a.m. after a person, whose identity was not immediately released, was hit by falling ice at the 30 Rock plaza, an FDNY spokesman said.

The victim refused medical attention at the scene, the FDNY said.

The problems continued for more than an hour, as ice chunks continued to rain down on those below, including a tourist who was nailed in the forehead with an ice chunk, leaving a small red mark on his brow, as well as a DNAinfo reporter. None of those who were hit required medical attention.

"A big piece fell on my dad. He's a little hurt, but nothing more," the man's daughter translated for her father, who didn't speak English.

Nancy, who was visiting the city with her family and declined to give her last name, was also hit by some ice while waiting for the Observation Deck with her husband.

"We got hit with a little bit of snow. Nothing too big though. I didn't think it'd be this cold in April," said Nancy, who declined to give her last name.