By Tom Shea, NBC New York
Two people died and at least 17 others were hurt — including seven children — when a building collapsed Wednesday at the edge of a construction site in New York City, officials said, sparking a frantic search by firefighters combing through large piles of rubble.
The collapse occurred around 4 p.m. near the intersection of Bedford and Flatbush avenues in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, the Fire Department of New York said. It was not known what caused or led up to it.
The FDNY said two people were removed from the rubble soon after the collapse. Aerial video showed dozens of firefighters scouring for others, at least two of whom were trapped in the wreckage. A senior city official later said those two were in the process of being freed just before 5 p.m.
Two people died and four of the injured were in critical condition, FDNY officials said at a news conference Wednesday night. Seven children and a firefighter were among the injured, according to the FDNY.
The fire department noted that the number of victims could increase, since it was not known how many people were in the building when it collapsed or whether everyone had been accounted for.
Video from NBC New York’s Chopper 4 showed firefighters pulling an injured person from the rubble around 4:45 p.m. He was taken away on a stretcher. Another person was seen being taken away on a stretcher just after 6:30 p.m.
The building that collapsed appeared to have been three stories tall, with a business on the ground floor. It was next to an excavation site after a one-story building that had previously been there was fully demolished.
The collapsed building filled the construction pit with bricks and wood.
Another building that shared a wall with the collapsed structure remained standing, but its wall was shorn off, exposing the rooms inside, including a bedroom and closets filled with clothing.
The city’s Office of Emergency Management advised people to avoid the area, as traffic delays and road closures were expected.
A drone hovered over the site as firefighters dug by hand, tossing chunks of rubble aside. Rescuers also used dogs to sniff for survivors. As darkness fell, firefighters used flashlights to illuminate the area where they worked.
The senior city official said rescue operations were ongoing, with searches still being conducted.
Phone and email messages seeking comment were left with the architect, the property owner and the general contractor listed in city records as being associated with the construction project.
Multiple teams responded to the scene. An investigation continues.
The Department of Buildings said inspectors were at the scene to assist with recovery operations and to conduct structural stability inspections of surrounding buildings.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on X that people should avoid the area in order for rescue crews to continue to work.
“We will be sharing what we learn as soon as we can confirm it. As emergency operations continue, please join me in holding our neighbors and the members of this community in our hearts,” he wrote.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on social media: “My heart breaks for the family who lost a loved one in today’s building collapse in Brooklyn. I’m keeping them in my thoughts and praying for everyone affected. My administration has reached out and offered its full support as authorities investigate what happened.”