Building collapse in Brooklyn kills at least two, injures more than 10

On Wednesday, a three-story building in Brooklyn, New York, collapsed near a construction site, resulting in at least two fatalities and over a dozen injuries, according to New York City officials. The 1930s-era four-unit apartment building tumbled into an adjoining construction zone where excavation was taking place. The cause of the collapse is currently under investigation, with city fire department chief John Esposito confirming the ongoing search for possible additional victims.

The collapse occurred around 4 p.m. (2100 GMT) in the Flatbush area, though the exact number of occupants inside the building at the time remains unclear. It is unknown how many construction workers were present on-site when the tragedy struck. Firefighters from the scene arrived within a minute of the collapse and were instrumental in rescuing the first victims.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported that at least two people had been killed, and more than ten others sustained injuries, ranging from critical to non-life-threatening. City Fire Department Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore stated that the total number of known victims was 19, including seven children. It is unclear whether the two deceased were children or adults, and a firefighter also suffered minor injuries in the incident.

Rescue efforts involved search dogs combing through the debris, with debris removed in buckets to access any potential survivors trapped beneath the ruins. WABC-TV reported that at least four survivors were pulled from the wreckage approximately two to two and a half hours after the collapse, including a pregnant woman. The fire department estimated that it would take several days to complete the search of the entire site, as the overall number of missing individuals remains unknown.