Four survivors were pulled alive from the rubble of a three-storey building that collapsed into a construction pit in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening, as New York City officials confirmed at least two people died and 17 others were injured. One survivor was a dust-covered woman believed to be pregnant, carried away on a stretcher roughly 2½ hours after the collapse.
The building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue partially collapsed about 4pm local time, sending debris into an adjoining excavation site at 2625 Bedford Avenue and ripping open the side of a neighbouring structure. Firefighters arrived within a minute and launched a major rescue operation, with some 250 personnel taking part as firefighters combed through the wreckage by hand, using drones and specialist equipment.
Among those rescued were Anderson Velez's two children, aged 2 and 7, who had been among those trapped. Velez told the New York Post he was at work when his wife called; she was inside with rubble on top of her. “She was screaming for someone to help get my son out and then the call cut off,” he said. He later learned his family had been rescued alive.
The FDNY said 17 people were injured, including seven children, with four in critical condition. One firefighter sustained minor injuries. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised the emergency response, saying on X that crews “arrived in under a minute and have spent hours working in dangerous and highly technical conditions to rescue New Yorkers”. Fire Chief John Esposito said it would take several days to search the entire site for potential victims. “We do not know how many people are missing overall,” he said.
The cause of the collapse is under investigation. Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani confirmed excavation work was taking place directly alongside the structure when it gave way. City records show a demolition contractor had been issued a violation in April for unlawfully continuing demolition at the site despite a stop-work order; the violation was resolved in October and the contractor paid $10,000 in penalties.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The collapse of a residential building into an active construction site highlights oversight gaps in demolition and excavation permits, even after violations are resolved.
- Seven children were among the injured, and a family was trapped for hours, underscoring the human toll of structural failures.
- The search could last days, and officials cannot yet say how many people remain unaccounted for, meaning the death toll may rise.
Background
The four-unit apartment building at the corner of Flatbush and Bedford Avenues dated from 1930, according to city records. It housed ground-level businesses with apartments above. The adjacent lot had been vacant for years and was formerly a senior day care centre. A demolition contractor was cited in April for continuing work after a stop-work order but paid a $10,000 penalty in October. The cause of the collapse, which occurred while excavation was under way next door, remains under investigation.
Key Perspectives
- New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani: praised the FDNY for arriving within a minute and working through the evening in dangerous conditions.
- FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore: described the rescue work as "dangerous and perilous" and said every move was choreographed.
- Fire Chief John Esposito: said it is not known how many people are missing and that the search could take several days.
- Resident Anderson Velez: his wife and children were trapped; he later learned they were rescued alive.
What to Watch
- Whether the death toll changes as the rubble is fully cleared.
- The outcome of the New York City Department of Buildings investigation into the cause of the collapse.
- Any additional violations or legal action against the demolition contractor or construction site operator.
- The condition of the four critically injured victims, including the pregnant woman.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 5 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedFour survivors were pulled alive from the rubble.Euronews: “Rescuers pulled four survivors from the rubble as firefighters continued searching for people feared trapped beneath the wreckage.”
- SupportedAt least two people died in the Brooklyn collapse.Euronews: “At least two people have died and 17 others were injured after a three-storey building partially collapsed in Brooklyn”
- SupportedA woman believed to be pregnant was among those rescued, as the search continued for people feared trapped.Euronews: “At around 6.30 pm, rescue teams pulled a dust-covered woman, believed to be pregnant, alive from the debris and carried her away on a stretcher.”
- SupportedThe collapse left 17 people injured.Euronews: “According to the FDNY, 17 people were injured, seven of them children”
- SupportedThe rescued woman was carried away on a stretcher roughly 2½ hours after the collapse.The Age - Latest News: “WABC-TV reported that at least four survivors were pulled from the wreckage about 2 to 2 ½ hours after the collapse, including a pregnant woman.”
- SupportedThe cause is under investigation, and excavation work was taking place directly alongside the building when it gave way.Euronews: “Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani confirmed that excavation work was taking place directly alongside the structure when it gave way. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation”
- SupportedVelez said, “She was screaming for someone to help get my son out and then the call cut off.”Euronews: ““She was screaming for someone to help get my son out and then the call cut off,” he said.”
- SupportedVelez’s children, aged 2 and 7, had been trapped and were later rescued alive with his family.Euronews: “his two children, aged 2 and 7, were among those trapped in the rubble”
- SupportedThe injured included seven children and four people in critical condition; one firefighter had minor injuries.Euronews: “According to the FDNY, 17 people were injured, seven of them children, while one firefighter suffered minor injuries.”
- SupportedMamdani said crews “arrived in under a minute and have spent hours working in dangerous and highly technical conditions to rescue New Yorkers”.BBC News: “They “arrived in under a minute and have spent hours working in dangerous and highly technical conditions to rescue New Yorkers,” he later wrote on X.”
- SupportedEsposito said the search would take several days and that officials did not know how many people were missing overall.RTÉ News: “Mr Esposito said it would take rescue teams several days for the entire site to be "searched for all potential victims," adding, "We do not know how many people are missing overall."”
- SupportedCity records show a demolition contractor was cited in April for continuing demolition despite a stop-work order; the violation was resolved in October and the contractor paid $10,000 in penalties.7NEWS: “In April, a demolition contractor was issued a violation for unlawfully continuing demolition work at that site despite the Department of Buildings’ order to stop, according to city records. The violation was resolved in October and the contractor paid $10,000 in penalties, the records show.”