One person has died and several others have been injured after a three-storey residential building collapsed in Brooklyn, New York, leaving multiple people trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident occurred at approximately 4pm on Wednesday on Bedford Avenue in the Flatbush neighbourhood, where the building suddenly crumbled into an adjoining construction site.
According to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), several people, including construction workers who were at the site when the structure came down, were caught beneath the debris.
One Person Confirmed Dead as Rescue Operations Continue
One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while six others were transported to hospital in critical condition, the FDNY told NBC 4.
At least six additional people were reported injured, including one individual who remained trapped beneath the rubble but was able to communicate with emergency responders.
Rescue teams managed to remove the trapped individual on a stretcher at approximately 4.45pm.
Two more people who had also been caught beneath the debris were rescued shortly after 6.30pm.
An NYPD spokesperson separately told the Daily Mail that at least five people had been pulled from the rubble and taken to Kings County Hospital.
Their conditions were not immediately known.
Firefighters Pull Victims From Debris
Footage from the scene showed firefighters working through the rubble to rescue victims and transfer them onto stretchers.
Images also captured sections of the damaged structure, with rooms exposed by the collapse and clothing still hanging inside.
A construction worker was also seen embracing a child near the emergency response area as rescue operations continued.
Nearby Building Sustains Damage
The building that collapsed was located beside a construction site where a separate one-storey structure had previously been demolished as part of a development project, according to the Associated Press.
Excavation work had been taking place at the site before the incident.
Following the collapse, the construction area was filled with debris, including wood and bricks from the fallen building.
A neighbouring property that shared a wall with the collapsed structure remained standing, although sections of its walls were torn away, exposing parts of its interior.
The building appeared to have been primarily residential, with a business operating on its ground floor, according to officials.
Authorities Investigate Cause of Collapse
The New York City Department of Buildings confirmed that inspectors had arrived at the scene to support emergency operations and assess the safety of surrounding properties.
In a statement, the department said its inspectors were “assisting with recovery operations and conducting structural stability inspections of nearby buildings.”
The cause of the collapse remains unclear, and authorities have not confirmed how many people were inside the building when it came down.
Residents and members of the public were advised to stay away from the area as emergency crews continued their work. Officials also warned of road closures and traffic delays around Bedford Avenue.
Mayor and Governor Respond to Deadly Incident
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the incident in a post on X, saying his office would provide further information once details had been confirmed.
“As emergency operations continue, please join me in holding our neighbors and the members of this community in our hearts,” he wrote.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also expressed condolences to the family of the person who died and offered support to those affected.
“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,” Hochul said.
She added that her administration had contacted officials and offered its full support as authorities worked to establish what caused the building to collapse.
