At Least 8 Killed, 17 Injured in NYC Multiple-Dwelling Building Collapse

At least eight people have died and more than 17 including seven children and one firefighter have been injured in a building collapse in Brooklyn.

The New York Fire Department (FDNY) responded within one minute to a 4:01 p.m. call Wednesday to 1321 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn for the collapse of a three-story, multiple-dwelling building into an adjacent construction evacuation site.

More than 250 fire, police and other first responders including all K-9 units immediately began search-and-rescue operations that continued into last evening and this morning.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported this morning that last night’s death toll of two had risen to eight after emergency workers spent the night searching the debris for victims.

“Multiple people from the building and the construction site were trapped,” FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said during an 8:30 pm press briefing with the mayor and other city officials. “This will be a prolonged operation. Collapse operations are extremely dangerous. Every move is choreographed and critically important to patient outcomes and member safety. Members have been working methodically and haven’t stopped since they arrived this afternoon.”

The numbers of people who were in the building or may still be trapped under debris are unknown.

Mayor Mamdani said the buildings department and police will conduct an investigation into the cause.

The city building commissioner said the construction workers were doing excavation work on the three-story site in anticipation of building a nine-story structure.

FDNY officials said they are taking steps to prevent a secondary collapse of the adjacent building.

The Red Cross, utility workers and all city emergency departments are involved in the rescue and recovery effort.

“This has been a whole-of-government response. I want to thank the first responders who arrived in under a minute and have spent hours working in dangerous and highly technical conditions to rescue New Yorkers,” Mayor Mamdani stated. “Their courage and dedication are extraordinary.”