India’s UN Mission Evacuated As Nearby New York Tower Sags

NEW YORK, NY-India’s UN Mission building was evacuated on July 7 after parts of a tower across the street began to buckle, threatening nearby structures.

A source said everyone at the 27-storey mission building was safe and had left after being informed that a city evacuation order was imminent. The evacuation was ordered as a precautionary measure, and the mission building itself remained safe as of noon on July 7.

The building includes housing for the families of mission staff, as well as offices and conference facilities.

The problem arose at Pfizer’s former world headquarters, which is being converted into a residential building.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said several tall buildings in the area were also being evacuated. He added that there had been no reports of injuries and that all workers were accounted for.

Officials said beams on the 21st and 22nd floors of the former Pfizer building began to buckle on, endangering the upper floors up to the 26th, which started to sag and raised fears of a major collapse.

Bricks and other building materials fell on 42nd Street.

Large sections of 42nd and 43rd streets, where the mission is located, were barricaded by police, with closures extending to other streets in the area.

Officials said nine high-rise buildings were ordered evacuated. (IANS)