Witnesses who watched a Brooklyn building come crashing down felt helpless amid the chaos

New York residents experienced panic and helplessness as a three-story building collapsed in Brooklyn on Wednesday, raining debris onto a vacant lot. 67-year-old retiree Dervie Mapp watched in horror as the building she saw coming down outside her window crumbled, showering bricks and twisted metal onto the razed site. At least eight people, including two children, lost their lives in the deadly collapse that occurred without warning.

Eight others were injured, including four firefighters who aided in the rescue efforts. Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the victims as "parents and children, young families building their lives in our city and immigrants from Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Trinidad and beyond." Among the injured were four firefighters who helped search for survivors through piles of debris including mattresses, a broken sink and a refrigerator with missing doors. The collapse also destroyed personal belongings like vinyl records, shoes and more.