NYC Mayor Confirms Eight Dead in Brooklyn Structure's Sudden Plunge
Rescue crews continued searching the site of the three-story structure that fell into a construction pit Wednesday afternoon, with heavy rain expected later Thursday.
By Fatima Saleh ·
The death toll from the collapse of a three-story mixed-use building in Brooklyn rose to eight on Thursday, according to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. At least 17 people were injured in the accident, which occurred Wednesday afternoon when the structure fell into an adjacent excavation site. Three of the injured were firefighters.
The building was a mixed-use property with commercial space on the ground floor and apartments above. When it collapsed, workers were digging on a neighboring vacant lot to prepare for a new construction project. Much of the debris landed inside that construction pit. A neighboring building that shared a wall with the collapsed structure remained standing, but the loss of the shared wall exposed the interior, including a bedroom and closets full of clothing.
Rescue operations began immediately after the collapse. By Wednesday evening, firefighters had pulled a woman from a hole in the debris. She was still moving and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. More people were extracted as the night progressed. Approximately 250 firefighters were assigned to the scene, according to Mamdani. Two deaths were confirmed on Wednesday, while the remaining six were verified on Thursday morning.
On Thursday morning, crews continued digging through the rubble using picks and electric saws. They used orange buckets to remove debris and deployed search dogs to locate potential survivors. Lillian Bonsignore, the Fire Department of New York commissioner, described the work as dangerous and risky. She stated that every movement was choreographed. The cause of the collapse is under investigation. Ahmed Tigani, the New York City building commissioner, noted that excavation work was underway on the adjacent property at the time of the failure.
Anderson Velez, a resident of the collapsed building, was at work when his wife called to report that she and their two children, ages seven and two, were trapped under the debris. He described hearing her scream for help before the call ended. Velez later learned that his family had been rescued alive. Heavy rain is forecast for Thursday afternoon, which may complicate the ongoing search efforts. Messages seeking comment were sent to the architect, owner, and contractor listed in city records for the construction project.
Mamdani posted on X that his heart was with the families of those lost and injured. He urged residents to stay clear of the area and to call 311 if they could not reach someone they believed was affected. For those outside New York City, the contact number is 212-639-9675.
