At least eight people have been killed and 17 others injured after a three-storey building collapsed into an adjoining construction site in Brooklyn, New York, triggering an extensive search-and-rescue operation.
The death toll rose from two to eight on Thursday, November 12, after emergency responders recovered additional bodies from the rubble of the collapsed structure in the Flatbush neighbourhood.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed the updated casualty figures, while firefighters continued searching for people who might still be trapped beneath the debris.
Three firefighters were among the 17 injured victims, according to the latest update. Seven children were also among those affected, although authorities have not disclosed whether any of them were among the deceased.
The building, located at the intersection of Flatbush and Bedford avenues, reportedly collapsed shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, November 11, falling into an excavation site beside it.
The four-apartment structure, which was built in 1930, had commercial premises on its ground floor and residential apartments above.
The collapse also damaged an adjoining property, tearing away part of its wall and exposing rooms inside, including a bedroom and wardrobes.
More than 250 firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel were deployed to the scene, where they worked through the night to locate victims and clear the wreckage.
Rescue teams used search dogs, power tools, pickaxes, drones, and buckets to remove debris and reach people trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
Several people were reportedly rescued alive, including a pregnant woman who was pulled from the rubble and taken to the hospital. A resident, Anderson Velez, also confirmed that his wife and two young children, who were trapped inside the building, survived the disaster.
New York Fire Department Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore described the rescue operation as dangerous and technically challenging, warning that unstable debris and concealed gaps beneath the wreckage posed additional risks to emergency workers.
Mayor Mamdani expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, describing the incident as devastating and commending first responders for their efforts.
Meanwhile, the city’s Department of Buildings has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said construction workers were carrying out excavation activities at an adjoining empty lot when the incident occurred.
The construction site had approval for a three-storey development, while plans for a proposed nine-storey mixed-use building were still awaiting approval, according to officials.
Authorities have yet to establish whether the excavation work contributed to the collapse, with investigations continuing to determine the exact cause.
Emergency responders have warned that the search operation could take several days because of the unstable condition of the wreckage and the possibility that additional victims may still be trapped.
Officials have also urged residents to avoid the affected area as recovery and investigation activities continue.
