Two dead, 17 hurt in Brooklyn building collapse; search for survivors continues into night

A three-story mixed-use building in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighborhood collapsed into an adjacent construction pit Wednesday afternoon, killing at least two people, injuring 17 others — including seven children — and triggering a dangerous, multi-day search for anyone still buried in the rubble.

The building at 1321 Flatbush Ave. came down shortly after 4 p.m., sliding into an excavation site at 2625 Bedford Ave. where a construction crew had been digging the foundation for a proposed three-story building. As it fell, it tore away the side wall of the neighboring building at 1323 Flatbush Ave., leaving bedrooms and closets full of clothing exposed to the open air.

Among the dead is Jose Luis Caguana, 26, an immigrant from Ecuador who had been in the United States for about six years and was working construction to support his family, according to NBC News. Several other injured were also construction workers on the Bedford Ave. site, officials said. The name of the second victim was not immediately disclosed.

Her husband has passed away; he was the sole provider for the family. Now that he's gone, she is going through an immense amount of pain. She is in a very bad state right now — she's completely overwhelmed and can't even find the words to speak.— Carlos Caguana, brother of Jose Luis Caguana

Four of the 17 injured were in critical condition. One firefighter was also hurt. The seven injured children all lived in the two affected buildings, officials said.

One of the most urgent rescues of the evening involved a pregnant woman who was pulled from the rubble more than two hours after the collapse, at around 6:30 p.m. Her husband had told an ABC Eyewitness News reporter he had been unable to reach her since the building fell. Rescue crews had to break apart a large section of debris before they could get to her.

She is alive.— Husband of the rescued pregnant woman, speaking to reporters

Details about her condition were not released right away, the New York Daily News reported. A source within the FDNY said she was taken to a hospital Wednesday night.

With more than 250 FDNY firefighters and EMTs on scene by Wednesday night, the rescue operation was described by officials as both prolonged and perilous. Firefighters dug by hand, tossing chunks of rubble aside, and used K-9 dogs to sniff for survivors in voids beneath the debris. As darkness fell, they worked by flashlight.

We do not know how many people are in the collapse zone. This will be a prolonged operation.— Lillian Bonsignore, FDNY Fire Commissioner

This is such a very fragile situation here. ... We'll continue to look until we find everybody.— Lillian Bonsignore, FDNY Fire Commissioner

FDNY Chief of Department Joe Esposito identified the most pressing structural danger as the possibility that 1323 Flatbush Ave. — the bulk of which remained standing — could undergo a secondary collapse.

This is an extremely dangerous operation for all of our people.— Joe Esposito, FDNY Chief of Department

The cause of the collapse has not been determined. According to NBC News, the city's Department of Buildings dispatched inspectors to the scene to support recovery efforts and carry out structural stability checks on nearby buildings. NBC News also reported that messages by phone and email were sent to the architect, property owner, and general contractor identified in city records as parties connected to the construction project.

Three buildings beyond the collapsed one were evacuated and deemed unsafe by the city. The Red Cross opened a reception center at the Flatbush YMCA, located at 1401 Flatbush Ave. Red Cross spokesman Frederic Klein said that by 11 p.m. the organization had registered more than four households — 12 adults and three children — for emergency assistance, which included temporary hotel accommodations.

All things considered, their heads are up. And they're family units. A mom with her kid playing on the ground. Three people in their 20s. A group of seven. Somebody brought pizzas in from the community. People want to help. It's just a reminder of how good people can be to each other.— Rosaura Soto, Red Cross volunteer

Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared at the scene and urged drivers to avoid Flatbush Ave. between Clarendon Road and Bedford Ave., which was shut down for the rescue operation.

I want to ask New Yorkers to take a moment to pray for those who passed away today and all those who are mourning their loss, and for a fast and full recovery for those who are injured.— Mayor Zohran Mamdani

Gov. Kathy Hochul said on social media that her administration had offered its full support as authorities investigate what happened. Officials warned Wednesday night that the death and injury toll could still rise — the number of people who were inside the building at the time of the collapse remained unknown.

Why it matters — With the death toll still uncertain, dozens of residents displaced, and a secondary collapse threatening rescue workers, the Flatbush disaster is an active, evolving emergency that could affect anyone in or near the cordoned area.

Reported by cnn.com, nydailynews.com, nbcnews.com