One person was killed and twelve others were injured, six of them critically, after a three‑story building collapsed near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon.
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) reported that the collapse occurred around 4 p.m. The cause of the failure remains unknown, and investigators are working to determine what led to the incident.
Rescue operations
FDNY crews responded immediately, pulling two victims from the debris shortly after the collapse. Aerial footage showed dozens of firefighters combing through the rubble well into the evening. By 4:45 p.m., a firefighter was seen extracting an injured person on a stretcher, and two more were lifted from the site after 6:30 p.m.
Rescuers employed a range of tactics, including hand‑digging, using flashlights as darkness fell, and deploying search dogs to locate survivors. A neighboring building that shared a wall with the collapsed structure remained standing, though its wall was partially stripped, exposing interior rooms.
Impact on the community
The city’s Office of Emergency Management warned residents to avoid the area due to expected traffic delays and road closures. The Department of Buildings dispatched inspectors to assist with recovery and to assess the structural stability of surrounding buildings.
Attempts to contact the architect, property owner, and general contractor listed in city records for comment have so far been unanswered.
Ongoing investigation
City officials confirmed that the investigation into the collapse is ongoing. The FDNY and Department of Buildings will continue to work together to ensure public safety and to determine the cause of the failure.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
