Two dead and at least 12 injured in Brooklyn building collapse

Two people died and at least 12 others were injured when a building collapsed in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon. Officials reported that six of the injured are in critical condition. The incident occurred near the intersection of Bedford and Flatbush avenues and triggered a frantic search effort by firefighters who combed through large piles of debris.

According to the Fire Department of New York, the collapse happened around 4 p.m. Authorities stated that the cause of the incident was not immediately known. Two individuals were removed from the rubble shortly after the structure gave way. Aerial footage showed dozens of firefighters working to locate others, including at least two people who were trapped in the wreckage. A senior city official later indicated that those two trapped individuals were in the process of being freed just before 5 p.m.

Video captured by NBC New York’s Chopper 4 showed emergency personnel extracting an injured person from the rubble around 4:45 p.m. That individual was transported away on a stretcher. Another person was seen being removed on a stretcher shortly after 6:30 p.m. FDNY officials confirmed that six people suffered less serious injuries in addition to the six in critical condition.

The collapsed structure appeared to be three stories tall and housed a business on the ground floor. It was situated next to an excavation site where a previous one-story building had been fully demolished. The falling debris filled the construction pit with bricks and wood. An adjacent building that shared a wall with the collapsed structure remained standing, but its shared wall was shorn off, exposing interior rooms such as a bedroom and closets filled with clothing.

Rescue operations continued into the evening as firefighters dug by hand, tossing chunks of rubble aside. A drone hovered over the site while search dogs were deployed to sniff for survivors. As darkness fell, emergency crews used flashlights to illuminate the work area. The city’s Office of Emergency Management advised residents to avoid the vicinity due to expected traffic delays and road closures.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted on X that he hoped to share confirmed details as soon as possible. He urged the public to join him in holding the community’s neighbors and families in their hearts while emergency operations continued. The mayor also advised people to stay clear of the area to allow rescue crews to work effectively.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her condolences on social media, stating that her heart broke for the family who lost a loved one. She noted that her administration had reached out to offer full support while authorities investigate the incident. She described her thoughts and prayers for everyone affected by the tragedy.

The Department of Buildings confirmed that inspectors were present at the scene to assist with recovery operations and to conduct structural stability inspections of surrounding buildings. Multiple teams responded to the site, and an investigation into the cause of the collapse is ongoing. Phone and email messages seeking comment were sent to the architect, property owner, and general contractor listed in city records for the construction project.