Eight people are dead and 17 others injured after a three-story building at 1321 Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn collapsed into an adjacent construction pit on Wednesday.
Emergency responders spent the night in a grueling, methodical search for survivors among the rubble, which remained a precarious scene as authorities began investigating the cause of the disaster.
The collapse occurred at approximately 4 p.m. on Wednesday, drawing hundreds of firefighters and police officers to the Flatbush neighborhood. Witnesses described a sudden, violent event. “The whole building started shaking, and then it just fell,” Melissa Orna told the New York Times.
Brigitte Anama, who operates a salon across the street, recalled, “We heard the boom and we all rushed outside and saw smoke and dust everywhere.” Novella Spence, a resident of the area, said the scene evoked memories of the devastation of 9/11, noting that the side of the building had simply vanished into the excavation pit.
Crews Work Through the Night to Clear Debris
Search crews worked through the night, using power saws and pickaxes to clear twisted wood, brick, and steel beams. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore emphasized the danger of the operation, noting that every movement had to be carefully choreographed to avoid triggering further collapses. “This will be a prolonged operation. Collapse operations are extremely dangerous.” By Thursday morning, large excavators were brought in to remove larger slabs of debris.
Among those rescued was a pregnant woman who was pulled from the rubble more than two hours after the building fell. Her husband, who had been searching for her in anguish, later confirmed to reporters that she was alive. Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed his condolences, stating, “There are no words for a loss of this magnitude.”
Building Records Show a History of Regulatory Violations
The collapsed building was situated at the edge of a lot where a one-story structure had been torn down to make way for new development. New York City Building Commissioner Ahmed Tigani confirmed that construction crews were actively digging at the time of the collapse.
Records from the Department of Buildings indicate that the site had a history of regulatory issues. In April, the department issued a violation to a demolition contractor for unlawfully continued work while on notice of a Stop Work Order. Work at the site resumed only after the company paid a $10,000 fine.
Property records indicate the building at 1321 Flatbush Ave. was a three-story structure containing four residential units and one commercial unit. The property has reportedly recorded nearly 100 violations dating back to 1972. The site was purchased for $4 million in 2024, with permits issued to owner Mordchai Waisbrod for shoring work to be performed by Townhouse Builders.
Displaced Residents Face Overwhelming Loss and Hardship
The neighborhood, a diverse area with a mix of Caribbean and Mexican restaurants, has been profoundly shaken. City Council member Farah Louis said that many of the building’s occupants were immigrants.
One victim, 26-year-old Jose Luis Caguana, was identified by his brother as an Ecuadorian immigrant who had been in the United States for six years working in construction to support his family. Carlos Caguana told News 4 that his family is “completely overwhelmed and can’t even find the words to speak.”
The American Red Cross has stepped in to assist those left homeless by the incident. Regional communication manager Frederic Klein confirmed the organization registered 12 adults and three children across six households for emergency aid.
Many of those displaced found temporary shelter at the Bethesda Church of God in Christ, located across from the collapse site, where pastor Joseph offered prayers and support to grieving families. Flatbush Avenue remained closed from Clarendon Road to Bedford Avenue throughout the night as the investigation into the collapse continues.
Earlier coverage: Search for Survivors Continues After Brooklyn Building Collapse
