New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed on Thursday morning that eight bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of a three-story building that collapsed in Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon. The incident, which occurred in the Flatbush neighborhood, has resulted in at least 17 injuries, including three firefighters.
The Fire Department of New York initially reported two fatalities when the building gave way, but the number of deceased has increased as rescue teams continue their efforts. Among the injured, four individuals were transported to local hospitals in critical condition, while the others sustained minor or non-life-threatening injuries. More than 250 fire and EMS personnel remain on the scene as the rescue operation proceeds.
Mamdani expressed his sorrow over the loss of life in a social media post, stating, "I am heartbroken that eight New Yorkers have now lost their lives and at least 17 have been injured, including three firefighters." He added that there are no words for a loss of this magnitude and extended his thoughts to the families and loved ones of those affected, as well as to everyone grieving.
According to a press conference held on Wednesday evening, the FDNY received a 911 call reporting the collapse at 1321 Flatbush Avenue at 4:01 p.m. Firefighters arrived at the location within one minute and immediately began searching for trapped individuals. The building, which housed a store on the ground floor and apartments on the upper levels, fell into an open construction site located next door at 2625 Bedford Avenue.
Rescue crews are utilizing drones to survey the wreckage from above and vacuum trucks to safely remove debris. These measures are intended to aid in the search for anyone who may still be buried under the rubble. The mayor urged the public to stay clear of the area and to keep the affected residents and first responders in their thoughts.
The cause of the collapse has not yet been determined. The city's Department of Buildings has deployed inspectors and engineers to the site to launch a formal investigation. Officials noted that the developers at the neighboring construction site held active permits for excavation and foundation work to build a new three-story structure.
City records indicate that the Department of Buildings issued a stop work order in March after inspectors found that the developers had demolished the existing building on the site without providing adequate shielding to neighboring properties, including the now-collapsed structure. Just over a month later, investigators discovered that the demolition had continued in violation of the order, resulting in a $10,000 fine for the contractor.
The stop work order was lifted by May after the developers came into compliance with regulations. However, the collapse on Wednesday prompted officials to once again halt all work at 2625 Bedford Avenue. The investigation aims to determine whether the neighboring construction activities contributed to the failure of the building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue.
