One dead, four critical after three-storey New York building collapses

One person lost their life and several others were critically injured Wednesday after a three-story building collapsed near a construction site in New York City, according to authorities. Images from the scene depicted firefighters amidst a heap of rubble in front of what seemed to be a residential property, with its walls reduced to debris, revealing a bedroom and a clothing wardrobe.

US media reported that some individuals were rescued from the rubble, including a child carried out on a stretcher. New York's fire department reported receiving calls about people being trapped following the building collapse around 4pm (2100 GMT) in the Flatbush district of Brooklyn. The FDNY stated that one person was pronounced dead upon arrival, while four were taken to the hospital in critical condition.

An additional six individuals suffered minor injuries. The cause of the collapse was not immediately determined. The city's Department of Buildings reported that its inspectors were present at the scene, aiding in recovery operations and conducting structural stability inspections of surrounding buildings.