The Consulate of Jamaica in New York is one of several buildings in Manhattan that were shuttered after structural columns buckled in a skyscraper under construction, prompting evacuations by emergency services.

According to AFP News, emergency services evacuated a section of East 42nd Street, a busy Manhattan block, during Tuesday morning’s rush hour after structural columns buckled inside a high-rise undergoing renovation.

The incident occurred at the 38-storey former head office of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, where extensive work is underway to convert the building into residential apartments.

The New York Fire Department said firefighters discovered that two structural columns had buckled on the 21st and 22nd floors.

“Floors sagging between 21st and 26th floors. Approximately 40 units, 130 fire and Emergency Medical Service personnel utilised. No reported injuries at this time,” the department said.

The compromised structure, which stands near Grand Central Terminal and the United Nations headquarters, prompted evacuations of nearby hotels, businesses and apartments as a precaution, while police and firefighters swarmed the area, AFP correspondents saw.

Following the incident, the Jamaican Consulate said it would, out of an abundance of caution, remain closed until “clearance is issued by the New York City Fire Department and Department of Buildings confirming safe access to the area for our staff and the public accessing our services”.

Structural engineers from the New York City Department of Buildings were also on site assessing the damage.

Construction worker Eddie, 28, told AFP he was evacuated from the site and that he “was down below and I saw everyone starting to come down. Just then, they let me know that a column was broken”.

The Jamaican Consulate said it is actively monitoring the situation and will provide updates as they become available. It urged persons with scheduled appointments to monitor their email and the consulate’s social media platforms for announcements regarding reopening and appointment rescheduling.

For urgent consular assistance, it directed people to its official website at www.congenjamaica-ny.org.