In New York, in the Flatbush area of southern Brooklyn, a three-storey building collapsed, killing at least two people and injuring a further 17. Four of the injured are in a critical condition, and seven children are among the casualties. The collapse occurred on 11 November at around 4.00 pm local time near a building site where excavation work was taking place. Part of the building fell into an excavated pit, trapping people under the rubble, from which rescue workers spent several hours extracting them.
- A three-storey residential and commercial building collapsed in Brooklyn on 11 November.
- Two people were killed and a further 17 were injured, including seven children.
- Four people are in a critical condition following the collapse.
- The building collapsed into an excavation pit on an adjacent site where earthworks were taking place.
- Rescue workers are continuing their search, whilst investigators and inspectors are determining the cause of the collapse.
A house collapsed next to a building site
The tragedy took place at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, near the junction with Bedford Avenue. The building, constructed in 1930, was used for both residential and commercial purposes: there was a shop on the ground floor, with flats above.
On the neighbouring plot, a single-storey building had previously been demolished and groundworks had begun for a new development. The three-storey building stood right on the edge of the excavation pit. After the collapse, the pit was filled with fragments of brick, wooden beams and floor slabs.
The neighbouring building, which shared a wall with the collapsed one, was also seriously damaged. Part of its façade was destroyed, leaving the interior rooms – including a bedroom and wardrobes – visible from the street.
Rescue workers searched for people beneath the rubble until late at night
More than 250 firefighters, paramedics and other emergency service personnel arrived at the scene. The first rescue workers reached the collapsed building within about a minute of the collapse being reported.
Search teams manually cleared the rubble, using special saws, search dogs and drones. Due to the unstable structures and cavities beneath the rubble, they had to work with particular care to avoid triggering a further collapse.
At around 6.30 pm, rescue workers managed to pull a woman alive from the rubble. They subsequently found other people who were still trapped inside the collapsed building.
The fire service reported two fatalities and 17 people injured. Four people are in a critical condition, whilst a further twelve are in a stable condition. One firefighter sustained minor injuries. Among those who received medical attention were seven children.
The causes of the building’s collapse are being investigated
Mayor of New York Zogran Mamdani He described the incident as a devastating tragedy and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He also warned that the number of casualties could change, as the rescue services did not have precise information about all the people who were inside the building and at the neighbouring construction site.
The City Department of Construction has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the collapse and the structural condition of the surrounding buildings. According to officials, authorised earthworks were taking place on an adjacent site; however, a direct link between these works and the collapse of the building has not yet been established.
The rescue operation continued through the night. Due to the risk of a further collapse and the difficulty involved in clearing the rubble, a full search of the debris may take several days.
