“I am heartbroken to share that at this time, at least two New Yorkers have passed away,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said during an evening news conference, as two people are dead and 17 others injured following a building collapse in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, according to city officials.
Flatbush Avenue Collapse
The three-story building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue slid into an open construction site next door at 2625 Bedford Avenue just after 4 p.m. on November 11, 2026, as reported by Fox News. The structure, which housed a medical-uniforms store on the ground floor and residential apartments above, collapsed into an excavation pit where workers were active.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted on X that first responders arrived quickly at the location to assist New Yorkers following the 911 call received by the FDNY at 4:01 p.m., with firefighters reaching the scene within one minute. Upwards of 250 fire and EMS personnel deployed to the area alongside police units and K-9 teams to search through the unstable debris.
🚨 HAPPENING NOW: FDNY units are currently operating at a building collapse on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/hZmL1peDKI
“It’s a very unstable situation,” said FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito, according to Fox News, warning of the risk of another collapse and calling the site an extremely dangerous operation for all personnel. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore noted during a press briefing that responders did not know how many people were in the collapse zone or how many individuals remained missing.
More than 250 fire and EMS personnel responded to the major technical rescue operation. New York City Fire Department Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore reported 19 total patients, including two fatalities, four individuals in critical condition, and 12 in stable condition. Seven children and one firefighter with minor injuries were among the victims.
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
Emergency crews pulled a pregnant woman from the rubble more than two hours after the collapse, while search-and-rescue teams continued working through the night using flashlights and search dogs. A local resident, Anderson Velez, expressed anguish over his two children who were inside, while Reverend Alfred Joseph opened the Bethesda Church of God in Christ across the street to welcome and pray with affected community members.
Adjacent Property Excavation Work Preceded the Building Collapse
City records indicate the adjacent property at 2625 Bedford Avenue was being excavated for a new development. Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said that construction workers were on site performing excavation work when the building fell. Approved plans for the site permitted a three-story building, while plans for a nine-story structure were still awaiting approval, according to Fox News.
First responders are on the scene of a building collapse on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, where they are working quickly to secure the location and assist New Yorkers. Flatbush Avenue is closed from Clarendon Road to Bedford Avenue – please avoid the area so rescue crews can…
Department of Buildings records show the contractor had previously been cited in April for carrying out demolition while under a stop-work order, and work resumed after the company paid a $10,000 fine. DOB records also note that the collapsed building had accumulated 98 violations filed by the Department of Housing, Preservation and Development dating back to 1972.
Building permitting applications list a company named W6 Facility X, LLC as the owner, with Judy Swimer and Faigy Fischman linked to the two entities that purchased the property for $4 million in 2024.
Displaced Households Receive Emergency Assistance at Flatbush YMCA
At least eight households were displaced by the disaster, affecting residents of 1321 Flatbush Avenue and 1323 Flatbush Avenue, where a wall was torn away to expose interior rooms.
The American Red Cross and the NYC Emergency Management Department opened a reception center at the Flatbush YMCA to provide emergency services and mental health support to impacted families. Frederic Klein of the Red Cross reported that emergency assistance volunteers registered multiple households for temporary lodging by late Wednesday night.
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.
“As emergency operations continue, please join me in holding our neighbors and the members of this community in our hearts,” said New York City Mayor Mamdani in a statement shared on social media.
Earlier coverage: Flatbush Building Collapse Kills 1, Injures 12 in Brooklyn
More on Flatbush Avenue
Due to a partial building collapse, please avoid the area surrounding Bedford Avenue and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. Expect street closures, traffic delays, and consider alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/03mjZm3TjI
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…
