At least six people have died and 17 others have been injured after a three-storey apartment building collapsed in the Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York.
The building came down at approximately 4pm on Wednesday along Bedford Avenue, trapping residents beneath the debris and prompting a large-scale search-and-rescue operation.
Emergency crews continued working through the night, with the sixth victim’s body recovered at around 6:30am on Thursday. Authorities warned that additional people could still be trapped beneath the wreckage.
The identities and ages of those who died have not been released. Officials also said the final number of injured people remains unclear as rescue operations continue.
More Than 250 Emergency Personnel Join Search
More than 250 firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the collapse.
FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito said the search could continue for several days while crews work to establish how many people remain missing.
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore described the operation as extremely dangerous, explaining that every movement had to be carefully coordinated to protect both trapped residents and emergency workers.
She said rescue teams had been working methodically since arriving at the scene on Wednesday afternoon.
Firefighters were seen removing victims on stretchers, digging through debris by hand and using search dogs to locate possible survivors.
One person trapped beneath the rubble managed to communicate with first responders shortly after the collapse and was rescued at approximately 4:45pm.
A pregnant woman was also pulled from the wreckage alive. Her partner told the New York Post that she was six weeks pregnant.
Families Wait for News of Missing Relatives
The collapse left residents and relatives desperately searching for information about loved ones who may have been inside the building.
Reverend Alfred Joseph, whose church is located across the street, described seeing a woman waiting for news about her husband, who was believed to remain trapped.
Anderson Velez, who lived in the building, said he was at work when his wife called to tell him that their two children, aged seven and two, had been caught beneath the rubble.
He said his wife was inside the apartment when the building collapsed and called for help to get their son out before the connection was cut.
Velez later learned that his family had been rescued and survived.
James Williams, who was inside his third-floor apartment with his wife when the structure came down, described hearing rumbling before opening the door and seeing the outside exposed.
He said the sudden collapse had left residents traumatised.
Anthony Griggs, 21, said he was walking home from work when he heard two loud bangs. Bricks fell near his feet, with one striking him, although he said he was not seriously hurt.
Displaced Residents Receive Emergency Shelter
Around 40 people who were forced from their homes have sought temporary accommodation at a nearby YMCA, according to reports.
The displaced residents include families with young children and at least one household with a pet dog.
One 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 all his possessions.
The collapse also damaged a neighbouring building that shared a wall with the structure. Although it remained standing, parts of its walls were torn away, exposing rooms inside.
Storm Could Complicate Rescue Operations
Authorities warned that weather conditions could make the search more difficult, with a storm expected to bring rain to Brooklyn throughout Thursday.
Officials said heavy rainfall could soak the debris and create additional challenges for rescue teams working to locate and remove anyone still trapped.
Emergency personnel have also urged members of the public to stay away from the affected area while recovery operations continue.
Investigation Examines Construction Work Near Collapsed Building
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, with attention being directed towards construction activity on an adjoining vacant lot.
The building, which dated back to the 1930s, contained apartments above a ground-floor business. It stood next to a site where a single-storey building had been demolished ahead of a new construction project.
Records show that a contractor received a violation in April after inspectors found that demolition work had continued despite a city order requiring it to stop. The violation is now listed as resolved, although the notice does not explain why the original stop-work order was issued.
The New York City Department of Buildings said plans for a new three-storey building at the adjoining site had subsequently been approved and excavation work was underway before the collapse.
Glenn Corbett, an associate professor of fire science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said deep excavation beside an existing building could create structural instability if appropriate precautions were not taken.
A full stop-work order has since been issued for the construction site.
Records Reveal 98 Open Violations at Building
Housing, Preservation and Development records obtained by the New York Daily News show that the collapsed property had 98 outstanding violations.
They included defective doors, unsafe electrical wiring, leaking ceilings, damaged fire-retardant materials and missing or malfunctioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
It has not been established whether the reported violations or excavation work contributed to the collapse.
The Department of Buildings confirmed that inspectors were assisting with recovery operations and examining the structural stability of nearby properties.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said his office was working with the department and law enforcement agencies to determine whether any criminal conduct may have played a role in the incident.
New York Officials Respond to Fatal Collapse
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the incident as a devastating collapse affecting residents across the Flatbush community.
He said the city would support those affected as recovery and rebuilding efforts continued, while also offering condolences to families who had lost loved ones and wishing injured residents a full recovery.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and said her administration had offered assistance to authorities investigating the incident.
The search-and-rescue operation remains ongoing as officials work to determine the full extent of the casualties and establish what caused the building to collapse.
