Manhattan high-rise at risk of collapse, Israeli consulate evacuated

Engineers raced against time to stabilize a Manhattan high-rise on Tuesday after two support columns buckled, leaving the 37-story building at risk of collapse. The incident prompted the evacuation of the Israeli Consulate in New York, located nearby, as a precautionary measure. Officials reported bricks falling from the building on 42nd Street, which is undergoing conversion from office space to residential apartments. Responding firefighters found multiple floors sagging due to the buckled columns on the 21st and 22nd floors. Streets were closed, and nearby buildings, including a school, were evacuated. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated the building remained unstable hours after the initial call, with emergency responders and engineers working to secure the site. "The building remains unstable," Mamdani told reporters. "If the floor is deemed to be secure, engineers will enter and begin shoring up the building as we await the arrival of materials that will stabilize the building." Fire Department Chief John Esposito noted that the building's steel frame construction meant any collapse would likely be localized, but the continued movement was a primary concern. The building, formerly Pfizer's headquarters, is slated for completion as a 1,600-unit apartment complex in 2027.

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all consulate employees were evacuated safely.