Two people were killed and at least 17 others injured on Wednesday when a three-story building collapsed into a neighboring excavation site in Brooklyn, trapping people that rescuers worked to free, according to city authorities and news reports. The Brooklyn building collapse left several people buried under rubble.
According to France 24, the victims included children, and the building fell near a construction site in New York. The Brooklyn building collapse involved the mixed residential and commercial building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, which gave way into an excavation pit at 2625 Bedford Avenue, according to Euronews. It also ripped open part of the neighboring building at 1323 Flatbush Avenue, Euronews reported.
Firefighters worked for several hours to reach trapped people, using drones, search dogs and chainsaws, according to France 24. Africanews reported that rescuers pulled four survivors from the rubble while firefighters continued searching for people feared trapped beneath the wreckage.
According to the FDNY, as cited by Euronews, 17 people were injured, seven of them children, and one firefighter suffered minor injuries. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least 10 of the injured were admitted to hospital, four of them in critical condition, Euronews reported.
About 250 firefighters and paramedics took part in the rescue operation, which used drones, buckets, power saws and specialist vacuum trucks, according to Euronews. Fire Chief John Esposito said authorities could not yet determine how many people were missing, and search-and-rescue operations could last several days, Euronews reported.
Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani confirmed that excavation work was taking place directly alongside the structure when it gave way, according to Euronews. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, and officials have not yet stated a conclusion.
The death toll is reported only by France 24 and Africanews. The Africanews item was available only as a headline and short excerpt, so its account could not be checked against a full report.
No response from the building’s owners, developers or the excavation contractor appears in the available reports. The number of people still missing or possibly trapped has not been confirmed, and the identities and medical conditions of several rescued people are not yet known.
Investigators will determine the cause of the collapse. Search-and-rescue work could continue for several days while authorities establish how many people are missing.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.