Eight Dead, at Least 17 Injured in Brooklyn Building Collapse as Search Continues
At least eight people were killed and 17 injured when a three-story building collapsed next to an excavation site in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood. Rescue crews worked through the night and continued searching the rubble Thursday for anyone still trapped.
The building on Flatbush Avenue came down around 4 p.m. Wednesday. Officials said four people were critically injured and at least seven children were among the casualties. It was unclear whether any of the children were among those killed. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said three firefighters were among the injured.
About 250 fire department personnel responded. Crews used drones and search dogs to look for survivors and brought in an excavator early Thursday to move larger pieces of debris. On Wednesday evening, rescuers dug an opening through the wreckage and pulled out a person covered in dust.
Among those rescued was a woman who was six months pregnant, according to WABC. Her husband had spent hours looking for her before learning she was alive. Some people displaced by the collapse took shelter at the Bethesda Church of God in Christ across the street.
The building stood beside a lot where a one-story structure had been demolished and excavation was underway. When the building fell, bricks and wood spilled into the construction pit. Another adjoining building remained standing, but part of its wall was torn away, leaving bedrooms and closets exposed.
City building inspectors are investigating what caused the collapse. NY1 reported that the city cited the construction project next door in May for several problems, including work during a stop-work order, inadequate overhead protection for neighboring properties, and work that did not follow approved plans. The collapsed building itself had nearly 100 housing violations on record dating back to 1972, the station reported. Officials have not said whether any of those violations contributed to the collapse.
Property records list four apartments and one commercial unit in the building. Mamdani urged people to stay away from the site while firefighters continued the search.
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