A 37-story building in Manhattan has been evacuated due to the risk of collapse after beams were observed distorted. The cause remains unclear.
In New York City, a 37-story building under renovation was vacated due to collapse risk. Police, firefighters, and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that the surrounding area has been cordoned off extensively.
The building, formerly the headquarters of the pharmaceutical company Pfizer on 42nd Street, is currently being converted into a residential complex with over 1,500 apartments. Images from inside showed a buckled support beam and distorted metal struts. According to the New York Times, workers captured these images before the building was evacuated.
Fire officials received a call about falling bricks shortly before 8 a.m. local time, as stated by Lillian Bonsignore, the head of the New York Fire Department. Responders subsequently declared the surrounding area a no-go zone. Several additional buildings were also evacuated as a precaution, including at least one school and some hotels. Officials warned that parts of the building might be at risk of collapse, describing the situation as “extremely serious,” said Mamdani.
“Only a small part of the building affected”
Several steel beams appeared to be buckled, indicating structural issues. Efforts are underway to stabilize the building with new beams, according to reports.
It was stated that only “a small part” of the building was affected, as claimed by the responsible real estate development company. The cause of the issue remains unclear, and no injuries have been reported.
The area surrounding the affected building is one of the busiest parts of this metropolis, home to thousands of residents and workers, along with countless visitors who frequent attractions such as Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler Building, and the United Nations headquarters.
