A three‑storey mixed‑use building in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood collapsed on Wednesday, killing at least two people and leaving more than a dozen injured. The incident occurred in a predominantly Black and Afro‑Caribbean community, prompting an immediate response from city officials and emergency services.
Rescue operations began around 4 p.m. after the first emergency call. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted updates on X, urging residents to stay away from the area. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) arrived within a minute of the call, as Chief John Esposito explained that his crew had been returning from a nearby emergency when the collapse occurred.
FDNY reports indicate that four victims are in critical condition, 12 are stable, and one firefighter is receiving treatment for minor injuries. A drone has been deployed to help locate additional victims amid the rubble. The building’s collapse also impacted a nearby construction site, trapping workers who were “digging down” at the time, according to Esposito.
Among the rescued was a pregnant woman, and the FDNY’s Lillian Bonsignore noted that the operation will be prolonged as investigators determine the cause of the collapse. Bonsignore praised the firefighters’ “dangerous and heroic work,” highlighting the risks of disturbing the debris piles too quickly.
New York City’s Emergency Management established a help center at the local Flatbush YMCA for those affected, while the Police Department and emergency medical services worked alongside rescue crews to secure the site and provide medical care.
Source: Al Jazeera
Read the original article
Editorial note: This is an original news report prepared from the attributed source material with AI assistance. It is not a reproduction or translation of the original article.
