Two people died and 17 others were injured when a three-story building collapsed into a Brooklyn excavation site on Wednesday.
Flatbush Collapse Triggers Emergency Rescue Operation
The disaster occurred just after 4 p.m. at 1321 Flatbush Ave. in the Flatbush neighborhood. Emergency responders arrived within a minute of the first 911 call.
The structure collapsed into an adjacent construction pit at 2625 Bedford Ave.. It sheared the side of the neighboring building at 1323 Flatbush Ave. and exposed interior stairwells and apartments.
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.
“Multiple people from the building and a construction site were trapped,” according to authorities.
Upwards of 250 fire and emergency medical services personnel rushed to the scene alongside K-9 units and drone teams. Rescue crews used buckets and vacuum trucks to clear the heavy debris as night fell over the site.
Glenn Corbett told CBS News New York that excavation digging deep into the ground next to existing structures often presents serious destabilization risks. Corbett is an associate professor of fire science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said that community members had expressed concerns about the empty lot.
Two People Died and 17 Others Were Injured
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore confirmed that two people lost their lives and 17 others suffered injuries. Seven children were among the victims.
🚨 HAPPENING NOW: FDNY units are currently operating at a building collapse on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/hZmL1peDKI
Four patients remained hospitalized in critical condition while 12 others were listed in stable condition. One firefighter was treated for minor injuries. Victims were transported to local facilities including Kings County Hospital.
“This will be a prolonged operation,” Bonsignore said at a press briefing. Emergency personnel expect to find more victims. She said that officials did not yet know the exact number of individuals inside the structure when it gave way.
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
First responders pulled several survivors from the wreckage hours into the operation. One man searching for his pregnant wife told reporters, “I have an update from my wife, she is alive,” before boarding an ambulance with a victim, as reported by Yahoo News.
Another resident, Anderson Velez, learned of the emergency while at work. His wife called to report that she and their two children, ages 7 and 2, were trapped in the wreckage.
City Officials Inspect Unstable Structure
City officials cautioned that the rescue mission remains perilous. FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito warned about the severe risks at the site.
“It’s a very unstable situation,” Esposito said. “The adjoining building that remains partially intact is always a danger. Our main concern is the secondary collapse.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the emergency response as “an incredibly challenging and fast-moving situation, with precarious wreckage to work through and dangerous voids beneath the surface,” according to Spectrum News NY1. Mamdani urged residents to avoid Flatbush Avenue, which was closed between Clarendon Road and Bedford Avenue. NYC Council Member Farah Louis called the imagery coming out of the disaster site heartbreaking.
The NYC Department of Buildings said that inspectors “are on scene at a major building collapse near Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn assisting with recovery operations and conducting structural stability inspections of nearby buildings.” City records indicate the collapsed address had accumulated 98 violations since 1972.
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…
The adjacent vacant lot had received a violation for continuing work despite a stop-work order, failing to provide proper overhead protection for neighbors, and not conforming to approved architectural drawings. New York City Emergency Management opened a reception center for impacted residents in partnership with the Red Cross at the Flatbush YMCA located at 1401 Flatbush Ave.
Earlier coverage: Flatbush Building Collapse Kills 1, Injures 12 in Brooklyn
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…
