Fire chiefs are urging New Yorkers to avoid the area after bricks reportedly fell to the street01:02, 08 Jul 2026A New York City skyscraper remains unstable hours after it partially collapsed, officials have confirmed.‌Fire crews raced to the 37-storey high-rise in Manhattan shortly before 8am local time (1pm BST) after two supporting pillars buckled, causing five stories to cave in. Bricks reportedly fell to the street around the scene, forcing an evacuation of the area.‌Cliff Johnson was working inside the building. He told PIX11 News how the collapse occurred.‌“The beams started crumbling, the floors started crumbling, and they might have to evacuate the other side,” he said. “The general contractor chose to go non‑union for this project. All we want is responsible construction in the City of New York."So you know, putting members in jeopardy, putting workers in jeopardy. You have got to do the right job, and you have got to do that every time."‌The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) released an update around 1.20pm local time (6.20pm BST). It said: “Just before 8 am Tuesday, the FDNY received reports of a structural issue at an active construction site on East 42nd Street between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan.“The call came in for reported issues at a 37-story building at 235 East 42nd Street that is currently being converted from a commercial office building into a residential building.“FDNY units, as well as representatives from the Department of Buildings and NYC Emergency Management, responded and found structural issues on the 21st floor. Two structural columns buckled, and there were multiple cracks and sagging floors.”‌Chief of Department John Esposito added: "It's a very serious situation because the box beams — the steel beams — have started to bend and deflect from the weight."We evacuated the building and started evacuations of surrounding buildings. The building has continued to move since we have been on the scene."‌New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the situation as ‘serious’.“The concern is that since we have been on site since the early morning, we have seen continued shift of the structure,” Mayor Mamdani added.“Every few minutes we are looking at a new assessment of the structure and of the possibilities and the options that we have in front of us,” he added, saying that the city would continue to update New Yorkers who live in the neighborhood.‌Mamdani added stabilisation work will begin as soon as the building is deemed safe.He also echoed the message from the Fire Department, which ordered residents to avoid the area to make way for city workers who are responding to the situation. A nearby school with around 400 pupils has been closed.The evacuation caused major disruption during the morning and evening rush hours, and looks set to play havoc with commutes for the foreseeable future. No injuries have been reported from the partial collapse.Article continues below