At least eight people have died after a three-story apartment building collapsed in the Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise further as rescue operations continue.
The building came down at approximately 4pm on Wednesday, trapping residents and construction workers beneath the debris and triggering a major emergency response.
At least 17 people have also been injured, although officials have yet to establish the full number of casualties.
The identities and ages of those who died have not been released.
New York City authorities confirmed that a sixth victim had been recovered from the rubble at approximately 6:30am on Thursday.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced an hour later that the confirmed death toll had increased to eight.
Rescue Teams Continue Searching for Survivors
More than 250 firefighters and emergency medical personnel were deployed to the scene following the collapse.
Rescue workers have continued searching through the wreckage overnight, using heavy equipment, rescue dogs and manual excavation techniques to locate anyone who may still be trapped.
Video footage from the scene showed firefighters recovering victims on stretchers, while other responders used flashlights to search through the dust and debris.
Emergency crews also formed a human bucket line to remove rubble.
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said rescue personnel had been working methodically without stopping since the building collapsed.
FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito said the recovery operation could continue for several days as authorities work to determine whether additional victims remain beneath the wreckage.
Mayor Mamdani said rescuers were operating under extremely dangerous conditions as they searched for survivors.
Pregnant Woman and Other Residents Rescued Alive
Several people were successfully rescued following the collapse, including a woman who is six weeks pregnant.
Her partner reportedly expressed relief after learning she had survived, saying through tears, “She’s alive. She’s still alive.”
Another individual trapped beneath the debris managed to communicate with emergency responders before being pulled out on a stretcher at approximately 4:45pm on Wednesday.
Residents also described desperate attempts to reach family members who were inside the building when it collapsed.
Anderson Velez, who lived in the building, told the New York Post that he was at work when his wife called to inform him that their two children, aged seven and two, were trapped beneath the rubble.
He said his wife had been inside the apartment when the building came down and was screaming for help to get their son out before the telephone connection was lost.
Velez later discovered that his wife and children had been rescued alive.
Families Await News of Missing Loved Ones
The disaster has left several families uncertain about the fate of relatives who may still be trapped.
Reverend Alfred Joseph, pastor of a church located across the street from the collapsed building, described seeing a woman whose husband was believed to be among those buried beneath the debris.
He told the New York Post that the woman was unusually quiet as she waited for information about her husband.
Residents who survived the collapse also described the terrifying moments when the building suddenly came down.
James Williams said he was inside his third-floor apartment with his wife when they heard rumbling.
When he opened the door, he discovered that the outside of the building had collapsed.
He later saw a bright light and emergency responders arriving to rescue them.
“Everybody’s traumatized, we all are,” Williams said, describing how quickly their ordinary day had turned into a disaster.
Another resident, 21-year-old Anthony Griggs, said he was walking home from work when he heard two loud bangs. He recalled that bricks fell close to his feet, with one striking him.
Meanwhile, Bria, another resident of the neighbourhood, said the incident had deeply affected the close-knit community.
She added that she also lived in an older building and feared that a similar incident could happen to other residents.
Approximately 40 displaced residents, including families with young children and at least one family with a pet dog, have reportedly sought temporary accommodation at a nearby YMCA.
One displaced resident told The New York Times that his third-floor apartment, where he had lived for five years, was destroyed and that he had lost everything.
Storm Threatens to Complicate Rescue Operations
Emergency officials have also expressed concern that severe weather could make the ongoing search more difficult.
Forecasters warned that a storm expected to affect Brooklyn throughout Thursday could bring up to three inches of rainfall and winds reaching 30mph.
The anticipated rainfall could drench the rubble and increase the risk of flash flooding, potentially creating additional challenges for rescue workers attempting to recover victims and locate survivors.
Authorities have urged members of the public to avoid the affected area while emergency operations continue.
Collapsed Building Had 98 Outstanding Violations
Records from New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development have revealed that the collapsed property had accumulated 98 open violations.
The violations reportedly dated back to 1972 and included defective doors, unsafe electrical wiring, leaking ceilings, defective fire-retardant materials, and missing or malfunctioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
The building, which was constructed in 1930, contained residential apartments above a commercial business operating on the ground floor.
Questions have emerged about the condition of the property and construction activities taking place on an adjoining site.
Construction Activity at Adjacent Site Under Investigation
The collapsed building stood beside a vacant lot where a separate one-story structure had previously been demolished to make way for a construction project.
According to CBS News, a contractor received a violation in April after inspectors discovered that demolition work had continued at the adjacent site despite a city order directing that the activity stop.
The violation was subsequently listed as resolved, although the notice did not explain why the original stop-work order had been issued.
The New York City Department of Buildings confirmed that plans had later been approved for a three-story structure at the vacant lot and that excavation work was underway before the collapse.
Glenn Corbett, an associate professor of fire science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, explained that deep excavation close to an existing building can create structural stability problems if the appropriate precautions are not taken.
Authorities have now issued a full stop-work order for construction at the adjoining site.
However, investigators have not established whether the excavation work or the outstanding violations contributed to the building’s collapse.
Authorities Investigate Possible Causes of Collapse
The New York City Department of Buildings has launched an investigation into the incident.
Inspectors are examining the collapse site and assessing the structural stability of surrounding properties, including a neighbouring building that shared a wall with the structure that fell.
Although parts of the neighbouring building’s walls were torn away during the incident, the structure remained standing, leaving some interior rooms exposed.
The Brooklyn District Attorney, Eric Gonzalez, also confirmed that his office was working with the Department of Buildings and law enforcement agencies to determine whether any criminal conduct may have contributed to the disaster.
Mayor and Governor Respond to the Tragedy
Mayor Mamdani described the incident as a devastating collapse and expressed condolences to the families of those who died.
He said the city would support affected residents throughout the recovery and rebuilding process.
The mayor also called on New Yorkers to remember the victims, their grieving families and those recovering from injuries.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also expressed sympathy for the affected families, confirming that her administration had offered its full support as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
Rescue operations remain ongoing, with officials warning that the number of confirmed deaths could increase as emergency teams continue searching through the wreckage.
