Massive frozen zone around buckling NYC building leaves throngs out on the street with no idea when they can return

Midtown residents, workers and tourists ran for their lives from homes and offices near a buckling building Tuesday — and now have no idea when they can return to the evacuated “frozen zone’’ around the site.Nine buildings had to be suddenly cleared after 8 a.m.when crucial support columns began caving in the under-construction 37-story former Pfizer headquarters on East 42nd Street near Second Avenue — and City Hall would not say when anyone might be able to return to the area.“Evacuate! Everybody out!’’ an employee at the Westin Hotel at 212 E.

42nd St.screamed over the loud speaker in the morning, sending customers and workers fleeing.Three tourists from North Carolina said they were set to stay at the Westin for four days before their ocean cruise said they are now adrift without a place to bed down.“I saw a breaking-news story pop up on Twitter,” said one of the trio, Nika Whitsett, 33.

“I opened it and saw the streets.I said, ‘Oh, 42nd and Second.

That’s where we’re headed!’ ”The hotel sent an email to patrons Tuesday evening saying, “The latest update is the site of concern remains a safety risk, indicating the evacuation order will not be lifted anytime soon and will last well into the night, at the earliest.”It was allowing them to go briely return to their rooms — but only to get their belongings.A 22-year-old recent college grad who moved into an apartment on East 44th Street between Second and Third avenues just two days ago was trudging to her sister’s place across town — with two pieces of luggage and a bag of groceries in tow.“I woke up because there were a ton of sirens and like police megaphones telling people to get out of the intersection,” said the young woman, who only gave her first name, Allie.“I went to pack a bag, and then they started banging on the doors, and the Fire Department was saying that it might be like two weeks until we can get back — I’m really hoping that that’s some a ve...