New York City high-rise building evacuated over fears of collapse
‘Extremely serious situation’ is unfolding in Manhattan as building ‘remains unstable’: Mamdani
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Tuesday that an “extremely serious situation” is unfolding in Manhattan Tuesday following the evacuation of a high-rise building over fears that it may collapse.
“Around 8 a.m. this morning, FDNY received reports of a structural issue at an active construction site on East 42nd Street between Second and Third Avenues,” Mamdani said. “This is an existing 37-story building with active permits to convert it from a commercial office building to a residential building.”
Mamdani said first responders reacted “to the call immediately, and found structural issues on the 21st floor.”
“Two structural columns have buckled, in addition to multiple cracks and sagging floors. The building remains unstable,” the mayor warned.
“Since arriving on scene, we have witnessed additional movement in one of the compromised columns. First responders and structural engineers are working closely with the project engineer to develop plans to shore up the impacted floor,” Mamdani continued. “If the floor is deemed to be secure, engineers will enter and begin shoring up the building.”
“As we await the arrivals of materials that will stabilize the building, DOB engineers have been investigating with FDNY drones. This is an extremely serious situation and I am thankful to our first responders for quickly arriving at the site and to New Yorkers for reacting calmly and with urgency,” Mamdani said.
“I’m grateful to report that there have been no injuries at this time, and that every worker has been accounted for. The NYPD has instituted a frozen zone from 40th to 45th Streets between First and Third Avenues,” Mamdani added. “These streets have been temporarily closed off to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.”
