FLATBUSH, Brooklyn — Eight people have died and 17 others were injured following a partial building collapse into an active construction site in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, according to the Fire Department of New York.
The incident occurred just after 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the corner of Flatbush and Bedford avenues. The three-story, mixed-use structure—which featured a ground-floor store and residential apartments above—fell into an open excavation site next door. City records show the property was built in 1930.
Six victims were recovered from the debris immediately following the collapse, while two others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. Authorities noted that four of the victims discovered during Thursday morning search operations are believed to be construction workers. Seven children are among the 17 individuals reported injured, with multiple victims requiring critical care.
The New York City Department of Buildings stated that the developer held an active permit for excavation and foundation work at the adjacent site. Investigators have issued a full stop-work order while they work to determine the exact cause of the structural failure. First responders transitioned to a grapple and canine search operation as emergency personnel cleared remaining debris from the scene.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed his condolences to the victims' families and confirmed that a Red Cross help center for affected residents has been established at the Flatbush YMCA.
