Structural Beams in Manhattan High-Rise Under Construction Bend and Deform; Authorities Evacuate Nearby Residents

(Central News Agency, New York, July 7, Comprehensive Foreign News) New York officials stated that two structural beams in a high-rise under construction in a busy Manhattan district bent and deformed during the morning rush hour today, with partial floor collapses also occurring. Authorities have urgently evacuated residents from nearby hotels, shops, and apartments, and surrounding streets remain closed.

According to Reuters, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) reported receiving a call before 8 a.m. Eastern Time today about bricks falling from a 37-story building on 42nd Street. Upon arrival, personnel discovered that two structural beams on the 21st and 22nd floors had bent and deformed, with multiple floors even experiencing collapses.

The Fire Department stated that residents in surrounding buildings have been evacuated and streets remain closed. No injuries have been reported so far.

The building, located near New York's Grand Central Station, was formerly the headquarters of multinational pharmaceutical company Pfizer and is currently being converted from commercial office space to residential apartments.

According to Agence France-Presse, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, "Two structural columns in the building have bent and deformed, with cracks and collapses occurring on multiple floors. The building remains in an unstable state, and law enforcement officers on site have observed continuous movement of the damaged beams. The situation is extremely serious."

Mamdani added that all construction workers on site have been safely evacuated and that project engineers are working with structural engineers to develop a reinforcement plan. He emphasized, "We will not allow New York citizens to return until we are fully assured of the safety of these structures."

Officials stated that rescue beam support units will be deployed to strengthen the building's structural integrity. According to the Associated Press, continuous collapses have been observed on floors 21 through 26 of the building.

Reporters from Agence France-Presse observed at the scene that residents from nearby hotels, businesses, and apartment buildings, as well as teachers and students from a school, have been evacuated. Police and fire departments are on standby at the scene, and surrounding streets remain closed. Relevant authorities are deploying drones to assist in assessing the building's damage.

According to reports, the renovation project covers an area of approximately 1.3 million square feet and is expected to provide about 1,600 high-end rental apartments. The construction was originally scheduled to conclude in early 2027, and upon completion, it will be the largest commercial-to-residential conversion project in New York City's history.

The developer responsible for the project has not yet responded to requests for comment. (Compiled by Hong Qi-yuan) 1150708

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