India, July 8 -- A large number of people were evacuated from a high-rise building in Manhattan, New York City, after authorities declared the structure unstable following the buckling of support columns, according to media reports.

Emergency stabilisation work is underway at the 37-storey building at 235 E. 42nd Street, where a structural column buckled on the 21st floor during an ongoing conversion of the property from a commercial office building into a residential tower.

Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani told ABC7NYC that temporary shoring had been installed to stabilise the structure.

He said hydraulic jacks had been installed to support the structure, while new steel reinforcements were being added to improve its ...