A 37-story Manhattan skyscraper under renovation has been evacuated when workers on Tuesday noticed cracks in the structure, falling bricks and support beams that were bending.
At least eight neighboring buildings also were evacuated under concerns the structure could collapse.
Video shows two columns buckled inside a Midtown building under construction. Dozens were evacuated and multiple streets were closed at the height of rush hour. See the full story : https://t.co/lgH632z6TN pic.twitter.com/7eYIZtJNPI
— PIX11 News (@PIX11News) July 7, 2026
BREAKING: Midtown Manhattan high rise evacuated after construction workers discover buckled columns … sagging floors and falling bricks. 42nd & 43rd streets near 2nd avenue closed as DOB assesses the danger. pic.twitter.com/294MXBdkeY
— Steven Bognar (@Bogs4NY) July 7, 2026
A building in midtown Manhattan was evacuated after fire officials said two columns buckled and floors were sagging between the 21st and 26th floors. Several buildings nearby have also been evacuated over concerns of a potential collapse. CBS News’ @lilialuciano has more. pic.twitter.com/mHMTiMjN8A
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 7, 2026
A report at the Daily Mail said the building on East 42nd Street, which formerly was occupied by Pfizer, was undergoing renovation into 1,500 luxury living units.
“Construction crews self-evacuated from the 37-story skyscraper on East 42nd Street just after 8 a.m. Tuesday after they discovered that two support beams had begun to buckle on the 21st and 22nd floors. The 21st to 26th floors of the building started caving in under the stress, officials say,” according to the report.
“Terrifying footage filmed by workers inside the building showed the massive silver beams buckling and bending just moments before the floor started crumbling,” the report said.
No injuries were reported immediately but the New York Fire Department confirmed it was launching a “major technical rescue response.”
A worker, to the Daily Mail, accused the contractor of failing to shore up the project correctly.
That worker claimed, “The beams started crumbling, the floors started crumbling, and they might have to evacuate the other side.”
Streets around the building were ordered closed.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a statement, “Now luckily there have been no injuries to report at this time, all workers are accounted for, the building has been evacuated, a number of tall buildings in the area are also being evacuated at this time, a school with about 400 children has also been evacuated.”
