In short
- At least two people died and more than 17 others were injured when a three-storey building on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, New York City, collapsed at about 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
- More than 250 first responders took part in the search-and-rescue operation at the site in Brooklyn.
- New York City Fire Department Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said people from the collapsed building and from the construction site had been trapped.
- City records cited by CBS News show the Brooklyn building was constructed in 1930.
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said crews arrived in under a minute and worked in dangerous and highly technical conditions.
At least two people have died and more than 17 others have been injured after a three-storey building on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, New York City, collapsed into an open construction site at about 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Wednesday, officials said. More than 250 first responders were sent to search for survivors.
What happened on Flatbush Avenue?
The building gave way at about 16:00 local time and fell into an open construction site, prompting a search-and-rescue operation by more than 250 first responders in Brooklyn. Aerial video recorded hours later showed firefighters carrying a survivor covered in dust out of the debris on a stretcher. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the collapse.
How many people were killed or injured?
Officials put the death toll at at least two, with more than 17 others injured. New York City Fire Department Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said people from the collapsed building and from the construction site had been trapped.
What did the fire commissioner say about the rescue?
Lillian Bonsignore, commissioner of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), described the rescue mission as “extremely dangerous”. “Members have been working methodically and haven’t stopped since they arrived this afternoon,” she said.
What did Mayor Zohran Mamdani say?
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani went to the scene and praised emergency responders for their rapid arrival. In a post on X, Mamdani wrote that they “arrived in under a minute and have spent hours working in dangerous and highly technical conditions to rescue New Yorkers”.
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What do we know about the building?
The building was constructed in 1930, according to city records cited by CBS News, the BBC’s US partner. Images from the scene showed an entire side of the structure missing, with bedrooms and closets exposed and smashed concrete, twisted metal, household items and clothes among the debris.
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Has a cause been identified?
No cause has been established. Authorities said they had not yet determined why the building came down.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the Brooklyn building collapse?
At least two people were killed and more than 17 others were injured, according to officials. More than 250 first responders took part in the search-and-rescue operation.
What caused the building on Flatbush Avenue to collapse?
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the collapse, which happened at about 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
Where is the collapsed building in Brooklyn?
It is on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, New York City. City records cited by CBS News show the building was constructed in 1930.
Was anyone rescued from the debris?
Aerial video recorded hours after the collapse showed firefighters carrying a survivor covered in dust out of the debris on a stretcher.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)