A 37-storey high-rise in Midtown Manhattan — the former Pfizer headquarters at 235 East 42nd Street — was stabilised late on Tuesday after buckling structural columns sparked fears of a possible collapse and forced widespread evacuations in one of New York City's busiest districts. The scare, which began on Tuesday morning near Grand Central Terminal, prompted officials to clear seven buildings, including a school, diplomatic offices and hotels, before some evacuation orders were lifted once inspectors confirmed the damaged structure was no longer moving.

The alarm was raised around 8am when workers found buckling columns inside the 1970s-era office tower, which is being converted into more than 1,600 luxury apartments. Officials pointed to a visibly bent column on the 21st floor, along with cracks and sagging floors, and Fire Chief John Esposito said the concern was a localised structural failure rather than a collapse of the entire steel-framed building. Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the situation "extremely serious", and by Tuesday evening contractors had begun shoring up the damaged area, though repair work is expected to continue and may disrupt the surrounding area. The building's owners have accrued numerous outstanding violations, including one last August when a metal panel fell.