Brooklyn building collapse kills at least two, dozens injured as rescue effort continues
Two people were confirmed dead and 19 victims, including seven children, have been found after a three-story building in Flatbush collapsed, with officials saying the search will continue for days.
A three-story mixed-use building in Flatbush, Brooklyn, collapsed shortly after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, killing at least two people and injuring more than a dozen others. New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said 19 victims have been identified so far, including seven children, and that the search for additional survivors will likely continue for several days.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised first responders for arriving within one minute of the 911 call and said the city is “heartbroken” by the tragedy. He asked residents to pray for the victims and for a swift recovery for the injured.
"The units are performing dangerous and heroic work," Bonsignore told reporters, adding that the site remains "extremely dangerous" and "very unstable" as crews work to remove debris without further endangering victims or responders.
FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito said more than 250 firefighters and EMS personnel are on scene, supported by canine units from the fire and police departments. He emphasized that every move is carefully coordinated to avoid disrupting the debris piles, which could jeopardize patient outcomes.
Witnesses described the moment of collapse as chaotic, with bricks falling around pedestrians and demolition workers alerting responders that people were trapped beneath the rubble. Rescue teams have already pulled several individuals from the site, one of whom required immediate CPR.
The cause of the collapse is under investigation, and officials said the operation will remain ongoing until all potential victims are accounted for.