Hundreds of residents, hotel guests, and workers were forced to evacuate nine buildings in Midtown Manhattan Tuesday morning after critical support columns began caving in at an under-construction, 37-story former Pfizer headquarters. Authorities have established a "frozen zone" around the site at East 42nd Street near Second Avenue, leaving those displaced with no clear timeline for when they can return.
Around 8 a.m., alarms sounded and emergency personnel directed people to leave their homes and offices. "Evacuate! Everybody out!" an employee at the Westin Hotel at 212 E. 42nd St. announced over a loudspeaker, prompting guests and staff to flee. Hotel patrons learned through an evening email that the evacuation order would likely extend through the night, with only brief, supervised returns permitted to retrieve belongings.
Tourists from North Carolina, who were scheduled to begin a four-day stay at the Westin, found themselves without lodging. "I opened it and saw the streets. I said, ‘Oh, 42nd and Second. That’s where we’re headed!’ " one tourist recounted after seeing a news alert.
Residents also expressed uncertainty about their return. A 22-year-old who had moved into an apartment on East 44th Street just two days prior was forced to leave with luggage and groceries. "I went to pack a bag, and then they started banging on the doors, and the Fire Department was saying that it might be like two weeks until we can get back," she said, hoping the estimate was overly cautious.
Dr. Stefan Mitra, a neurosurgery resident, returned from a 24-hour shift to find his building evacuated. "I slept an hour or two after my shift to be safe to drive, and then I came home thinking I’d be able to go home and get to sleep some more, but now I’m stuck,'' Mitra said, contemplating the need to find a hotel.
City officials stated that a team of experts assessed the building and determined that contractors could proceed with installing temporary shoring to stabilize the structure. "This emergency shoring is a measure to stabilize the building, and additional stabilization work will be done throughout the evening and coming days," according to a statement from City Hall. However, the administration did not provide details on how many people were displaced or a timeline for their return.
Workers at the site described a hurried evacuation. A construction worker on the fourth floor recalled being told by a supervisor over the radio to "get out, get out, you have to leave the building" with haste.
Those displaced faced challenges securing alternative accommodations. A Brazilian businessman staying at the Westin for work found nearby hotels either too expensive or fully booked. "It’s frustrating because you understand they’re trying to keep everyone safe, but you’re also just standing here with no real answers, wondering where you’re going to sleep tonight and whether you’ll ever get your suitcase back," he said.
Staff at Israel's Consulate in New York were among those evacuated. "All consulate staff were evacuated safely," Consul General Ofir Akunis stated, adding that arrangements were being examined to resume normal operations promptly.