The scene of a building collapse in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday (local time). [AP]
The scene of a building collapse in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday (local time). [AP]

A three-story building partially collapsed in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday afternoon, killing eight people, including two children. Excavation work was underway at a nearby site at the time, and authorities are investigating whether the construction contributed to the collapse.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a news conference Thursday that the collapse, which occurred Wednesday afternoon, killed two children and six adults. At least 18 people were injured, including four firefighters.

The collapse occurred around 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. One side of the three-story apartment building, constructed in 1930, suddenly gave way. The structure housed ground-floor shops and residential units on the upper floors.

Construction workers were conducting excavation work at an adjacent site at the time. The exact cause of the collapse has not been determined. The New York City Department of Buildings and police are investigating whether the nearby excavation work played a role.

Rescue crews immediately launched a search for additional survivors. About 250 firefighters and emergency responders worked through heavy rain to clear debris and search for anyone trapped beneath the rubble.

Later that afternoon, the New York City Fire Department concluded its search after determining no additional victims remained buried and handed the scene over to the Department of Buildings and police. City authorities also issued evacuation orders for three nearby buildings over safety concerns.

Emergency responders work at the scene after a three-story apartment building collapsed in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday (local time). [AP]
Emergency responders work at the scene after a three-story apartment building collapsed in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday (local time). [AP]

The construction site immediately adjacent to the collapse had racked up multiple safety violations this year. In March, work was halted after crews carried out demolition without installing protective measures for neighboring buildings. Authorities found in April that work had resumed in defiance of the stop-work order.

The city allowed construction to resume in May after the violations were addressed, but a neighboring building collapsed roughly six months later. Mayor Mamdani ordered safety inspections of about 100 construction sites in New York City linked to the companies involved in the project.


bbo@heraldcorp.com