At least eight people have been killed and 18 injured, including children and fireworkers after a three-story mixed-use building collapsed in the Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York. The collapse occurred shortly after 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Rescue crews continued searching through the rubble on Thursday morning.
Casualties and Rescues
According to reports, emergency crews have recovered six bodies from the debris as of Thursday morning. Meanwhile, 18 people were injured. Among them are 14 civilinas and four firefighters, according to Mamdani, who sustained injuries during the overnight search.
Furthermore, first responders pulled a woman who was six months pregnant from the wreckage alive, hours after the collapse. A mother and her two young children were also rescued after being trapped inside.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani while expressing his condolences on X said, “This has been a very dark evening and morning for our city. We are mourning too many people who we loved, and as we grieve and as we rebuild, we will do so together as one city.”
Emergency Response and Investigation
More than 250 firefighters and EMS personnel reportedly responded to the scene. Crews are using K-9 units, drones, excavators and vacuum trucks to carefully clear the unstable debris while guarding against a secondary collapse.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the NYC Department of Buildings and law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident. He stated, “A tragedy of this magnitude demands a comprehensive and thorough investigation that includes both the construction site and the building which collapsed.”
Inspectors are also evaluating surrounding properties for structural safety.
Location and Incident Details
The 1930s-era building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, which housed a street-level storefront and four upstairs apartments, fell directly into an open excavation pit next door at 2625 Bedford Avenue. A one-story structure had previously been demolished at the site to make way for a new three-story building.
The collapse also sheared off an exterior wall of an adjacent three-story apartment building, leaving residents' bedrooms and closets exposed to the open air.
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