A New York school had to be evacuated due to falling bricks and columns from a nearby 37-story building. Structural support beams on the 21st and 22nd floors of the tower buckled during the morning rush hour, causing floors to sag 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), leading to an emergency situation with nearby streets closed off. Mayor Zohran Mamdani mentioned that approximately 400 students were safely evacuated from the school.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and all individuals inside the building were unharmed, as confirmed by Mayor Mamdani during a press conference at the site. Engineers are currently assessing the damaged floors and using drones for building inspections instead of risking human safety.
Mayor Mamdani emphasized the seriousness of the situation, praising the quick response of first responders and the calm reaction of New Yorkers. Stabilization efforts will commence once the building is deemed secure. Fire Department Chief John Esposito highlighted that the building remained unstable, posing a significant risk.
As a precaution, the FDNY established a “collapse zone,” and a frozen zone was announced by Mayor Mamdani in the vicinity. The area’s reopening and the return of evacuees to their homes remain uncertain. Developer Metro Loft assured cooperation with the Department of Buildings to ensure worker and public safety.
The building, formerly Pfizer’s global headquarters, is undergoing conversion into luxury apartments. Situated near iconic landmarks like the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, and the United Nations headquarters, it holds a strategic location in Manhattan.