Two killed in New York building collapse

A building collapse in Brooklyn, New York, has tragically claimed at least two lives and left over ten others injured, including children, as emergency responders continue their search for survivors amidst the rubble. The three-story apartment building, situated in Brooklyn's Flatbush district, collapsed around 4pm on Wednesday, November 11th, onto an adjacent construction site where excavation work was taking place.

New York City officials have identified 19 victims, comprising seven children, though the total number of individuals potentially trapped under the debris remains uncertain. Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that "at least two people died, while more than ten others were taken to local hospitals with injuries ranging from critical to non-life-threatening."

New York City Fire Department Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore shared that "a firefighter also sustained minor injuries during the rescue operation." The four-unit apartment building, constructed in 1930, fell into the neighboring construction site, according to Fire Department Chief John Esposito. The cause of the collapse is currently under investigation, as authorities are still unclear on how many residents or construction workers were present at the scene when the incident occurred.

Within moments of the collapse, a nearby firefighting crew arrived and assisted in rescuing the first victims from the debris. Rescue workers, utilizing search dogs, combed through the ruins, removing debris in buckets to locate those who might have been trapped beneath the rubble. At least four survivors were pulled from the wreckage within two to two-and-a-half hours after the collapse, including a pregnant woman.

However, Fire Department Chief John Esposito cautioned that the search operation could span several days, as the full extent of the casualties is yet to be determined.