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Massive Brooklyn Building Collapse Leaves at Least 2 Dead, 17 Injured as FDNY Scours Rubble [WATCH]

Posted By Talk Red On In National Security, News | No Comments

A three story Brooklyn apartment building collapsed into a neighboring active construction site Wednesday, killing at least two people and injuring 17 others as firefighters searched [1] through a sprawling and unstable mound of rubble.

The building at Newkirk and Flatbush Avenues fell at around 4 p.m., trapping residents and workers beneath structural debris. Witnesses described frantic calls from loved ones caught inside as rescue crews rushed into the dangerous collapse zone.

More than 250 FDNY personnel responded, with dozens of firefighters and search dogs scouring the wreckage late into Wednesday night. Officials warned that the number of victims could rise because crews did not know how many people remained missing.

Two people were pulled from the destruction and pronounced dead, according to FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. Officials did not provide their ages.

Four other victims were taken to local hospitals in critical condition, while another 12 were hospitalized in stable condition. One firefighter received treatment for minor injuries, and seven children were among the victims, though their conditions were not immediately clear.

Reverend Alfred Joseph, pastor of Bethesda Church of God in Christ across the street, opened the church to people affected by the collapse. The 72 year old pastor prayed with families awaiting information about their loved ones.

“There was one lady saying her husband is still in the rubble. She was not crying. She was so quiet,” Joseph said as the agonizing rescue operation continued.

Building resident Anderson Velez, 35, was working in the Bronx when his wife called to say she and their children, ages 7 and 2, were trapped under the wreckage. The desperate father rushed toward the scene while fearing for his family.

“She called me when the building collapsed while she was inside with rubble on top of her. She was screaming for someone to help get my son out and then the call cut off,” Velez said.

Velez later said his wife and children had been rescued and were expected to be OK. First responders also pulled a woman who was six months pregnant from the debris.

“She’s alive. She’s still alive. I’m very happy. I’m very happy,” the pregnant woman’s relieved partner said through tears.

Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said construction crews had been excavating the site next door when the apartment building crumbled into it. The collapse trapped workers and residents underneath the resulting pile of structural debris.

Witness Anthony Griggs, 21, said he was walking home from work when he heard “two big bangs” shortly before the building fell. “A couple of bricks fell by my foot. I got hit by one, but it’s ok. I’m ok,” Griggs said.

Firefighters were seen carrying a bloodied man away from the destruction while crews continued digging for anyone who might still be trapped. Bonsignore said officials “do not know how many people are still in the collapse zone.”

The search was expected to continue for days, with emergency responders remaining at the site “for quite some time,” Bonsignore said. She stressed that moving through the debris too quickly could disrupt the pile and create additional danger.

“Collapse operations are extremely dangerous because, as you know, the risk of disrupting the piles by moving too quickly,” Bonsignore said.

FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito called the site a “very unstable situation.” He said crews were proceeding carefully to prevent a “secondary collapse” while searching through the rubble.

The NYC Department of Buildings and law enforcement agencies were leading the investigation into the cause, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said during a media briefing. He described the incident as a devastating collapse affecting New Yorkers living along Flatbush.

“As we rebuild, the City of New York will stand alongside those impacted at every step of the way,” Mamdani said.

Displaced residents were taken to a local YMCA, where the Red Cross provided support and arranged places for them to stay overnight. The organization registered 12 adults and three children from six households, according to regional communication manager Frederic Klein.

“People were just sitting down for dinner and were torn from their homes,” Klein said. “It’s been a devastating day for them. And we just want to make sure they have the support they need as they start to recover.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul offered condolences for those killed and said state partners were reaching out. “My administration has reached out and offered its full support as authorities investigate what happened,” Hochul said in a statement posted on X.