A New York school was evacuated following the collapse of bricks and columns from a neighboring 37-story building onto the street. Structural support beams on the 21st and 22nd floors of the Manhattan tower gave way during the morning rush hour, leading to sagging floors between the 21st and 26th levels.
The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) responded to reports of falling bricks on 235 East 42nd Street around 8 am EDT (1 pm BST). An emergency operation was initiated, resulting in the closure of nearby streets to pedestrians and traffic.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed the evacuation of a school housing approximately 400 students. Despite the incident, there were no injuries reported, and all building occupants were safely located.
Engineers are currently addressing the damaged floors and utilizing drones for building inspections instead of sending personnel inside, as mentioned by Mamdani during a press briefing at the scene. He emphasized the ongoing instability of the structure and expressed gratitude to first responders and residents for their prompt and calm reactions.
Stabilization efforts will commence once the building is declared secure, according to Mamdani. Fire Department Chief John Esposito cautioned that the building remained in motion and posed a serious and hazardous situation.
As a precaution, the FDNY established a “collapse zone,” while Mamdani declared a frozen zone in the vicinity, spanning from 40th to 45th streets, between 1st and 3rd avenues. The timeline for reopening the area and allowing evacuees to return home remains uncertain.
In a statement, developer Metro Loft reassured cooperation with the Department of Buildings to fully comprehend the situation, prioritizing the safety of workers and the public.
The building, previously the global headquarters of Pfizer, is undergoing conversion from offices to upscale apartments. Positioned near the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, and the United Nations headquarters, its location is central in Manhattan’s iconic landscape.