Eight people have died and 17 others were injured after a three-story building collapsed in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn on Wednesday.
The disaster prompted a massive emergency response that stretched through the night and into the following morning, as firefighters and rescue crews searched the precarious rubble for survivors.
The structure at 1321 Flatbush Ave. crumbled into an adjacent construction site shortly after 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the New York City Fire Department. The collapse was so violent that it filled a construction pit with bricks and wood, creating dangerous voids that complicated the search for victims.
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
“This has been an incredibly challenging and fast-moving situation, with precarious wreckage to navigate and dangerous voids beneath the surface,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “This type of rescue is exactly what the FDNY trains for.”
Approximately 250 firefighters were deployed to the scene, working methodically to dig by hand and remove debris using orange buckets. As the hours passed, rescuers faced further hazards; at around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, a large steel beam shifted, striking a firefighter in the head. In addition to three firefighters, seven children were among the 17 injured.
Rescue workers have spent the night searching the site of yesterday’s building collapse, working under extremely dangerous conditions to find and save anyone who may still be trapped. I am heartbroken that eight New Yorkers have now lost their lives and at least 17 have been…
Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore emphasized that investigators do not yet know how many people may remain in the collapse zone, stating, “We know that we're not finished here, and we will likely not be finished for quite some time.”
The rescue of a pregnant woman more than two hours after the collapse provided a moment of hope. Her husband, who had been waiting in anguish, was heard telling reporters, “I have an update. She is alive. She is still alive. I am very happy,” before joining her in an ambulance.
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
Another resident, Anderson Velez, shared that his two children, aged 2 and 7, were successfully pulled from the rubble after he received a final, panicked phone call from his wife before her line went dead.
The collapsed building was perched at the edge of a lot at 2625 Bedford Ave. where excavation work was ongoing. City records indicate the site was owned by an LLC planning a 56,000-square-foot mixed-use project. Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said that workers were actively excavating the site when the disaster occurred.
A pre-construction inspection report, filed as part of the project’s permit application, previously identified the north wall of the adjacent building as being in “poor” condition, noting “major deficiencies.” Additionally, the construction firm had been issued a stop-work order in April for illegal demolition, which was only lifted after the developer paid a $10,000 fine.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office is now working with the Department of Buildings to determine if criminal conduct contributed to the collapse.
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.
The collapse also tore away the side of a neighboring building at 1323 Flatbush Ave., exposing the interiors of bedrooms and closets filled with clothing. The American Red Cross and New York City Emergency Management established a reception center for displaced residents at the Flatbush YMCA, ultimately assisting six households.
Local religious leader Rev. Alfred J. Joseph, 72, opened the Bethesda Church of God in Christ across the street to provide shelter and prayer for families awaiting news.
“My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we have lost, those who are injured and everyone grieving today,” Mayor Mamdani said. “Rescue operations are ongoing. Please stay clear of the area, and keep those affected, and our first responders risking their lives in these efforts, in your thoughts.”
Earlier coverage: Flatbush Building Collapse Kills 2, Injures 17 People
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…
