Unstable NYC building sparks evacuations surrounding Manhattan high-rise, collapse fears

At least nine buildings were evacuated and three roads were closed in response to a Midtown Manhattan high-rise that officials warned is at risk of collapsing.

The unstable tower, located at 235 E. 42nd St., showed signs of structural instability Tuesday morning.

According to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, one of the nearby buildings evacuated was a school with roughly 400 children inside.

Kennedy International School, located at 225 E. 43rd St., was running a summer camp for children in pre-K through fifth grade this week, according to its website.

A hotel was also reportedly evacuated. Property listings identify 231 E. 43rd St. as the Hampton Inn Manhattan Grand Central.

Previously, Mamdani said that the New York Police Department (NYPD) blocked off traffic from 40th to 45th Streets between 1st and 3rd Avenues.

Officials released photos Tuesday showing the apparent sagging of a Midtown Manhattan high-rise that authorities said is at risk of collapsing.

Multiple floors in the middle of the 37-story building appeared to cave downward slightly, according to photos released by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).

At least five floors were affected, officials said.The FDNY said the damage spans floors 21 through 26, with two structural columns buckling between the 21st and 22nd floors.

Since officials first responded to the scene Tuesday morning, "additional movement" has been detected in one of the compromised columns, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that the state is prepared to provide resources as concerns mount over a Midtown Manhattan high-rise at risk of collapsing.

“My team is in close contact with City officials following the incident in Midtown Manhattan,” Hochul said.

She added that the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), which coordinates state response to natural and man-made disasters, is already on scene to provide assistance.

“@NYSDHSES is on the scene and the State stands ready to provide any assistance needed,” Hochul added.

“Please avoid the area as emergency crews continue their work.”

Footage captured an interior beam buckling inside a Midtown Manhattan high-rise that officials warned Tuesday was at risk of collapsing.

In the video, the white beam appeared to bend and give way under pressure near a window.

First responders previously said at least two structural columns had buckled between the building's 21st and 22nd floors, causing floors in the 37-story tower to sag.

The New York City Fire Department released a photo Tuesday showing a bent beam inside a high-rise building that officials fear is at a risk of collapse. 

"It's a very serious situation because the box beams—the steel beams—have started to bend and deflect from the weight," Chief of Department John Esposito said in a statement posted on X. "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 said its drones “have provided technical information and visuals for partner agencies as assessments are conducted.” 

FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito said Tuesday that the Manhattan high-rise deemed structurally unstable is showing “continual movement.” 

"So we have specialized tools that we can watch the building from and see movement even in, centimeters or fractions of an inch. And since we arrived on the scene and put that in place, we have seen continual movement,” Esposito said during a press conference. 

“It does mean that it is not yet stable. It is still a very serious and dangerous situation,” he added. 

Esposito later said: "The the way this building is constructed, it's a steel frame building. So it would not be a total collapse. It would be more of a localized collapse, but that remains our concern, that it's moving."

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said “I want to be honest with New Yorkers that this is a fast-developing situation. 

“We are taking it minute by minute. And I appreciate our city workers who have been on the forefront of that. 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 also said. “When it comes to the New Yorkers who call these streets their home, we are going to be in touch with them as soon as we have any updates."

New York City Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said Tuesday that a massive fire and EMS presences have responded to 235 East 42nd Street in Manhattan, a high-rise that is "determined to be unstable.” 

"At this moment, we have 150 fire and EMS personnel on scene, over 50 units,” she said.  

"Upon arrival, there is an assessment done and the building was determined to be unstable. So we started evacuations of the building and the surrounding areas, establishing a collapse zone,” Bonsignore added. 

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.”

A Midtown Manhattan high-rise building near Grand Central Terminal was evacuated Tuesday morning after authorities said it was at risk of collapsing.

Officials with the New York Fire Department said they received a call at 7:57am about falling bricks at 235 East 42nd Street between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue.

The building was once the corporate headquarters for the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, which moved to The Spiral in Hudson Yards in 2018.

The 38-story building was sagging between the 21st and 26th floors, according to the FDNY. First responders also noted that 2 columns buckled between the 21st and 22nd floors. 

Approximately 130 fire and EMS personnel were activated to evacuate people from the premises.