Building collapses in Brooklyn with 8 people dead so far

A three-story apartment building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, falling at an angle into an adjoining construction site where excavation and foundation work were underway. The building contained four apartments above a ground-floor commercial space. Eight people, including two children, died, and at least 18 were injured, among them four firefighters; seven children were reported injured. The victims included immigrants from several countries. Hundreds of firefighters and other rescuers searched the rubble for nearly 24 hours using dogs, drones, helicopters and heavy equipment. Their work continued through heavy rain before officials concluded there were no more victims and ended the operation. Nearby buildings were evacuated, and residents faced street closures and temporary displacement.

The collapse’s cause remains under investigation, but officials are examining whether construction next door contributed. The city’s buildings commissioner said excavation was in progress when the building fell, and a stop-work order was issued. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said an inspection report had noted cracks in the building’s north facade, and he pledged a thorough investigation and accountability for unsafe conditions. The city also began safety inspections at roughly 100 sites linked to entities associated with the project. The neighboring property had previously been ordered to halt demolition in March over inadequate protection for nearby buildings; the order was lifted in August after violations were addressed. The disaster has also prompted questions about whether construction in lower-income Brooklyn neighborhoods receives scrutiny equal to that in Manhattan.