The Buildings Department Commissioner said inspectors are assessing from street level and will oversee a formal investigation after stabilization.

Owners had approval to add eleven floors, and investigations will determine the cause once stability is achieved, with emergency measures possibly including struts, beams, or columns as needed.

A high-rise under construction in Midtown Manhattan was evacuated after structural columns buckled on the 21st floor, sending bricks onto the street below, as emergency responders moved to stabilize the scene.

There were no injuries reported and all workers were accounted for as investigations and response efforts continue.

Investigators will determine whether design, construction, or other factors caused the failure, with potential for extensive litigation to assign responsibility.

Temporary shoring measures, such as jacks, could allow work to resume but will require deep investigation and would likely take several days before construction can continue.

A plan to stabilize the structure with emergency shoring, heavy-duty struts, and trusses is in place to enable a longer-term forensic investigation once movement falls to a safe level.

The incident is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Readers are asked to check back for additional updates as the situation evolves.

Civil engineer stressed the seriousness of the situation and noted the complexity of temporary shoring given the height, equipment, and loads from the conversion.

Officials, including the mayor, urged the public to follow responders’ directions, with a nearby school housing about 400 children evacuated as a precaution.

The investigation involves the Department of Buildings, FDNY, and engineering experts, with potential human error or miscommunications being considered as factors.