A three-story building in Flatbush, Brooklyn, collapsed toward the construction site next door at about 4 p.m. on Nov. 11, killing 2 people and injuring 17. Four of the injured are in critical condition, and 7 are children. The Fire Department said it does not know how many more people are in the rubble and that the search will take days.
A three-story building in Flatbush, Brooklyn, collapsed, killing 2 people and injuring 17. According to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), a report came in at about 4:01 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, that a three-story building at the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Flatbush Avenue had collapsed toward the construction site next door. Residents inside the building and workers at the adjacent site were trapped under the debris.
At a press conference that night, Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said, "There are 19 patients in total. Two of them have died, 4 are in critical condition and 12 are stable." One firefighter with minor injuries is included in that count. Seven of the injured are children. The injured were taken to hospitals including Kings County Hospital.
At a Glance
"We don't know how many more people are in the rubble"
Immediately after the collapse, the Fire Department deployed a large technical rescue team. About 250 firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded, and NYPD and FDNY rescue dogs also searched the debris pile. At about 4:45 p.m., a man was pulled from the rubble and carried out on a stretcher, and at about 6:30 p.m., a woman was rescued. Local broadcaster News 12 reported that one of those rescued was a pregnant woman.
Commissioner Bonsignore said, "We don't know how many people are still inside the collapse zone. This rescue will take a long time," adding, "We will stay on site for days until we find every victim." The building next to the collapsed one also lost part of its exterior wall, exposing its interior. The Fire Department said it has taken measures to prevent a secondary collapse.
Adjacent Site Kept Working Despite Stop-Work Order
The collapsed building is a three-story mixed-use building with a store on the ground floor and four residences above. According to New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) records, its address is 1321 Flatbush Ave. On the adjacent lot (2625 Bedford Ave), a one-story building had been fully demolished and excavation work was under way.
According to DOB records, this construction site continued working in April, during demolition, while under a stop-work order, and received a violation notice. A May inspection also recorded multiple problems, including work during a stop-work order, inadequate overhead protection for the neighboring building, and construction that differed from approved plans. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether this work is directly related to the collapse. The DOB has sent inspectors to the site to assist with the rescue and check the safety of surrounding buildings, and is investigating the cause of the incident.
Mayor Mamdani: "Many Dangerous Voids"
Mayor Zohran Mamdani called it "a very difficult and urgent situation, with unstable debris and dangerous voids below the surface," adding, "This kind of rescue is exactly what the Fire Department has trained for." Mamdani said Flatbush Avenue between Clarendon Road and Bedford Avenue will be closed until further notice and urged the public to stay away from the area around the site.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said on X, "My heart breaks for the families who lost loved ones in today's building collapse in Brooklyn," adding, "The state has offered its full support in the investigation." City Council Member Farah Louis, who represents the area, said, "I will be on site with the relevant agencies until everyone is confirmed safe and we get clear answers about what caused the collapse."
Information for Nearby Residents and Travelers
NYC Emergency Management and the Red Cross opened an assistance center at the Flatbush YMCA (1401 Flatbush Ave) for affected residents. Police and Emergency Management said road closures and traffic congestion around the site will continue and advised drivers to avoid the area. The identities of the dead and injured have not yet been released.