Manhattan skyscraper columns bent, prompting street closures

Several steel and concrete columns of a high‑rise building in Manhattan were observed to bend, raising concerns of severe structural instability. New York City officials, including the Department of Buildings (DOB) and the Fire Department (FDNY), arrived on site and deemed the situation a priority. The NYPD cordoned off multiple adjoining streets to protect pedestrians and vehicles while engineers assessed the risk of a potential collapse.

Authorities have suggested possible causes such as material fatigue from water infiltration and subway vibrations, unauthorized structural modifications, extreme temperature fluctuations, and prior construction defects. To monitor ongoing movement, engineers are installing high‑precision laser sensors and have erected temporary steel shoring to support the compromised columns. The incident has disrupted traffic and public transit routes in the affected area, and further technical reports are expected in the coming hours.