New York building collapse kills at least eight as rescuers search rubble

On Wednesday afternoon, a three-story residential building in Brooklyn, New York collapsed adjacent to a construction site, resulting in at least eight fatalities, officials announced on Thursday. Rescue crews, comprising approximately 250 first responders, arrived at the scene and began searching the rubble for survivors. The building's collapse sent debris, including bricks and wood, into an excavation pit on a neighboring property.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported that 17 people were injured, including three firefighters. He advised residents to stay away from the area due to hazardous conditions. Mamdani expressed his sorrow over the magnitude of the loss, stating, "There are no words for a loss of this magnitude." He conveyed his thoughts in a message on X, "My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we have lost, those who are injured and everyone grieving today."

The search continued throughout the night, with crews laboring under dangerous conditions to locate and rescue any individuals still trapped. Ahmed Tigani, the city's buildings commissioner, informed that the collapse occurred around 4pm. Inspectors and engineers joined the rescue efforts, assessing the stability of the remaining structures.

Tigani's department, along with law enforcement officials, initiated an investigation into the cause of the collapse, examining both the residential building and the adjacent construction site. It was revealed that workers were excavating the neighboring lot when the building fell, filling the pit with debris. The site had been cleared of a one-story building to make way for a new development.

Anderson Velez, who resided in the affected apartment block, recounted to the New York Post that he was at work when his wife called to inform him that she and their two young children were trapped under the rubble. Velez later learned that his wife and both children had been rescued unharmed.