A 37-storey skyscraper in New York City partially collapsed on Tuesday morning after two supporting pillars buckled, causing five storeys to cave in and prompting the evacuation of the building and surrounding streets. The incident occurred at an active construction site on East 42nd Street between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan, shortly before 8am local time (1pm BST).
Collapse Details and Immediate Response
The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) received reports of a structural issue at the building, which is being converted from a commercial office building into a residential building. Upon arrival, FDNY units, along with representatives from the Department of Buildings and NYC Emergency Management, found structural issues on the 21st floor. Two structural columns buckled, and there were multiple cracks and sagging floors. Bricks reportedly rained down onto the street below, leading to an evacuation of the surrounding area.
Cliff Johnson, a worker inside the building at the time, described the collapse to PIX11 News: "The beams started crumbling, the floors started crumbling, and they might have to evacuate the other side. The general contractor chose to go non-union for this project. All we want is responsible construction in the City of New York. So you know, putting members in jeopardy, putting workers in jeopardy. You have got to do the right job, and you have got to do that every time."
Ongoing Structural Concerns
Chief of Department John Esposito stated: "It's a very serious situation because the box beams - the steel beams - have started to bend and deflect from the weight. We evacuated the building and started evacuations of surrounding buildings. The building has continued to move since we have been on the scene." The FDNY issued an update at around 1.20pm local time (6.20pm BST), confirming the structural issues and ongoing monitoring.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the situation as 'serious' and noted that the structure had continued to shift since emergency crews arrived. "Every few minutes we are looking at a new assessment of the structure and of the possibilities and the options that we have in front of us," he added, stating that the city would keep local New Yorkers informed of developments. Mamdani confirmed stabilisation work will commence once the building is declared safe. He also reinforced the message from the Fire Department, which instructed residents to stay clear of the area to allow city workers to respond to the situation.
Impact and Evacuations
The evacuation triggered significant disruption throughout the morning and evening peak periods, and appears likely to cause chaos for commuters in the coming days. A nearby school with approximately 400 pupils has been shut. No injuries have been reported following the partial collapse. The building remains structurally unsound several hours after the partial collapse, with officials continuing to assess the situation and plan for stabilisation.
