At least two people were killed and 17 others injured—four critically—when a three-story mixed-use building in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood collapsed Wednesday afternoon, according to authorities.
The building, constructed in 1930 and located near the intersection of Bedford and Flatbush Avenues, housed a ground-floor store and four residential units. The collapse left staircases, bedrooms, and closets fully exposed as emergency responders worked into the night searching through debris.
Officials React to the Tragedy
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the scene shortly after the collapse, visibly shaken. “I am heartbroken to share that at this time at least two New Yorkers have passed away,” Mamdani said. “More than ten New Yorkers have been transported to local hospitals for critical and non-life-threatening injuries.” The mayor asked residents to “take a moment to pray for those who passed away today.”
Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who represents the district, said she personally knew residents of the collapsed building. “There’s a family of six who lives there who comes to the block party every year,” she told reporters. “It’s very emotional and triggering for us to know that we know someone there.”
Dramatic Rescue Efforts
Witnesses reported seeing first responders pull a pregnant woman and a child from the wreckage as crews worked methodically through the rubble. Search operations continued through the evening with authorities not ruling out the possibility of additional victims trapped in the debris.
Possible Contributing Factors
The adjacent lot had been undergoing demolition for a planned development project. Records show the Department of Buildings cited the demolition contractor in April for continuing work despite a stop-work order, resulting in $10,000 in penalties paid in October. Investigators have not yet determined whether the nearby demolition work contributed to the building’s collapse.
The Department of Buildings is expected to conduct a full structural assessment once rescue operations conclude.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/deadly-nyc-building-collapse-leaves-crews-searching-for-survivors