Eight people died when a three-story building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue collapsed into a Brooklyn construction site on Wednesday afternoon.
Rescuers Dig Through Rubble in Brooklyn
About 250 firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the scene, using power tools, drones, and search dogs to look for survivors in the wreckage as firefighters dug through rubble. Torrential rain turned the debris field into mud. AccuWeather predicted storms producing isolated wind gusts up to 50 mph. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said at a press briefing Wednesday that the heavy rain hitting the city would not stop their operations.
At 4:01 p.m. Wednesday, the FDNY responded to 1321 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn for a collapse of a three-story, multiple-dwelling building into an adjacent construction site. Units arrived within one minute and immediately started search-and-rescue operations. Two people have… pic.twitter.com/zSZBzsRu0C
About 250 firefighters were working the scene, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Elite firefighters tunneled into the wreckage to pull four victims out in the early hours of Thursday.
“This has been an incredibly challenging and fast-moving situation, with precarious wreckage to navigate and dangerous voids beneath the surface,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.
I joined @fdny and emergency crews at the scene of today's tragic building collapse on Flatbush Avenue. Two of our neighbors have lost their lives, and at least 17 others have been injured, including one firefighter. My heart is with the families and loved ones mourning those we…
Collapse operations are extremely dangerous because, as you know, the risk of disrupting the piles by moving too quickly.
Lillian Bonsignore, FDNY Commissioner
At least 17 people were hospitalized following the disaster. Four patients were in critical condition. A total of 18 people were injured, including four firefighters.
Workers Among the Dead in Brooklyn
Two of those dead and a handful of those injured include construction workers who were working on the construction site at 2625 Bedford Ave.
The victims included people from multiple countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and Trinidad. City officials and community members talked about the human toll of the disaster on local families.
These were our friends and our neighbors, parents and children, young families building their lives in our city, and immigrants from Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Trinidad and beyond.
Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor
Developers Plan Nine-Story Building
The three-story building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue collapsed as excavation work proceeded at the adjacent empty lot located at 2625 Bedford Avenue. City records show that developers are seeking approval for a nine-story structure with a cellar on the site. Robert Fischman sent a letter to neighboring landlords in June to inform them of upcoming excavation work.
A pre-construction inspection conducted in March found visible cracks on three faces of the neighboring building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue. The north wall of the building was in “poor” condition, according to city records.
City Launches Sweeps of Related Sites
There are five main entities involved with this construction site who are associated with approximately 100 other sites across the city. Our Department of Buildings is commencing sweeps of those sites today.
Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor
A city-led investigation to determine the cause of the collapse is underway.
Rescue workers have spent the night searching the site of yesterday’s building collapse, working under extremely dangerous conditions to find and save anyone who may still be trapped. I am heartbroken that eight New Yorkers have now lost their lives and at least 17 have been…
Our Department of Buildings is commencing sweeps of those sites today.
Earlier coverage: Brooklyn Building Collapse Kills 8, Including 2 Children
Devastated to learn that the death toll from last night’s building collapse in Brooklyn has risen to eight, including two children. My thoughts are with the families facing this unimaginable loss. They deserve answers and we will do everything we can to get them. We remain in… pic.twitter.com/9MJnGc6n2C
More on Brooklyn Building Collapse Kills
My heart breaks for the family who lost a loved one in today’s building collapse in Brooklyn. I’m keeping them in my thoughts and praying for everyone affected. My administration has reached out and offered its full support as authorities investigate what happened.
