A high-rise building in Midtown Manhattan was deemed structurally unstable on Tuesday morning after support columns buckled. The incident, which occurred during the morning rush hour, caused bricks to tumble into the street below.
Due to the instability, nearby buildings were forced to evacuate. Officials reported that the structure remained unstable and was still moving. New York City's fire chief stated that the building was in danger of a localized collapse.
The site is a former Pfizer pharmaceutical building currently being converted into luxury residential apartments. In addition to the buckling columns, officials discovered multiple cracks and sagging floors within the building.