Flatbush Collapse: City Inspectors Found Demolition Ongoing After March Stop-Work Order
Rescue crews searched for missing victims amid heavy rain on Thursday while questions emerged regarding a construction site that had been ordered to halt work in March.
By Fatima Saleh ·
Rescue teams searched through the debris of a partial building collapse in Flatbush on Thursday, Nov. 12, as heavy rain fell. Eight people died in the incident, which occurred the previous day, and at least 18 others were injured. Officials stated that additional victims may still be missing from the site.
The sequence of events leading to the collapse has drawn scrutiny from local workers and city inspectors. James Williams, a bricklayer with 20 years of experience, was at the site on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 11. He reported hearing construction workers strike the building’s foundation at 7 a.m. before the structure began to crumble.
City records indicate that the Department of Buildings issued a stop-work order following an inspection in March. That inspection found the building was being demolished without proper overhead protection. The department issued a violation at the time, but inspectors noted that demolition work had resumed by April. This activity continued despite the existing stop-work order.
Williams expressed frustration that the city’s directive had not been enforced. He noted that the workers did not stop their operations after receiving the order. A new complaint has been posted on the Department of Buildings’ website, calling for an examination of the approved excavation drawings for the site. The complaint raises questions about whether the work at the site contributed to the collapse.
The city’s Department of Buildings issued a vacate order on Nov. 12, requiring the rear yard at 458 E. 25th St. to be cleared. Construction crews continued to use heavy machinery to remove debris and rubble from the site throughout Thursday. An investigation into the cause of the collapse is currently underway.
Williams, who was present during the collapse, observed the ongoing cleanup efforts. He stated that he could only say "Oh, God" when he watched the structure fall. He added that he hopes the incident serves as a lesson for other construction sites in Brooklyn and elsewhere.
