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Several New York Streets Closed Due to Structural Failure in Skyscraper
🇵🇦 Panama /Disasters & Emergencies

Several New York Streets Closed Due to Structural Failure in Skyscraper

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Under investigation
  • Several streets in Manhattan were closed, and buildings evacuated after structural columns in a skyscraper under construction buckled.
  • The 38-story building, being converted from offices to residences, is near Grand Central Terminal and the UN headquarters.
  • While the developer insists there is no risk of collapse, city officials are assessing the structure's safety for repairs.

Emergency services in New York City closed multiple streets and evacuated hotels, offices, and residences in Manhattan on Tuesday after structural columns in a skyscraper under construction buckled. The 38-story building, which previously housed the headquarters of pharmaceutical company Pfizer, is undergoing a conversion from offices to residential units.

The developer has asserted that the entire building is not at risk of collapse. However, city officials have cautioned that the situation remains serious as they work to determine if the structure is safe enough for repair work. Emergency measures, including the installation of temporary struts and beams, are planned to reinforce the building.

Two structural columns gave way, in addition (there are) multiple cracks and sunken floors. The building remains unstable. Since we arrived on site, we have witnessed additional movements in one of the compromised columns.

— Zohran MamdaniDescribing the observed structural damage to the skyscraper.

"Two structural columns gave way, in addition (there are) multiple cracks and sunken floors. The building remains unstable. Since we arrived on site, we have witnessed additional movements in one of the compromised columns," stated New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all workers involved in the building's conversion have been accounted for.

The New Yorkers will be able to 're-enter these buildings when we have full confidence that it is safe for them to do so'.

— Zohran MamdaniAssuring residents about the timeline for returning to evacuated buildings.

Authorities are using a drone to assess the extent of the damage. The mayor assured New Yorkers that they could re-enter evacuated buildings once full confidence in their safety is established. Nearby local cable channel PIX11 was forced to abandon its studio during a live broadcast due to an evacuation order.

The project, slated for completion in early 2027, aims to create approximately 1,600 luxury rental apartments, making it the largest office-to-residential conversion in New York City's history. The affected area is described as a small section of one of the two buildings on the site, with the overall structure not posing a collapse risk, according to developer Metroloft.

We want to confirm that the affected area is a small section of one of the two buildings on this site. The building in its entirety is not at risk of collapse.

— MetroloftDeveloper's statement reassuring the public about the building's overall stability.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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