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Flatbush Building Collapse Death Toll Rises to Eight as Rescue Efforts Continue
A three-story residential building in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighborhood collapsed Wednesday, killing at least eight people and injuring 18 others. More than 250 firefighters and emergency workers are still searching the rubble for survivors.
NEW YORK â The death toll from a building collapse in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighborhood rose to eight on Thursday as rescue crews continued to search the rubble for survivors, city officials said.
Six people were pronounced dead at the scene and two others died after being taken to a hospital, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a press conference. Eighteen additional people were injured in the collapse of the three-story residential building, which occurred Wednesday.
More than 250 firefighters and emergency workers were deployed to the site Thursday, according to the New York City Fire Department, which reported that additional victims had been found in the debris.
Photos from the scene showed first responders climbing over piles of concrete and twisted metal, an excavator clearing debris, and a drone hovering above the wreckage. In one image, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams was seen consoling a man whose pregnant wife had been rescued from the rubble.
The cause of the collapse has not been determined. The building, a three-story residential structure, was reduced to a heap of debris when it gave way Wednesday, sending emergency crews rushing to the scene in the Flatbush neighborhood, a densely populated section of central Brooklyn.
The collapse drew an outpouring of grief and concern from residents and local officials. A construction worker was photographed embracing a child near the site, while onlookers watched as emergency personnel worked through the night and into the next day.
The search operation remained ongoing Thursday afternoon, with officials warning that the casualty count could continue to rise. The Fire Department said crews were using drones and heavy equipment to locate victims and ensure the safety of responders working atop adjacent structures.
Flatbush is home to a diverse mix of families, many of them immigrants, and the collapse has shaken the tight-knit community. Local officials have not yet released the names of the victims.
The city has not announced any immediate plans for an investigation into the cause of the collapse, but the Department of Buildings is expected to examine the site once rescue operations conclude. Building safety has been a persistent concern in parts of Brooklyn, where aging housing stock and construction activity have raised alarms among residents and advocates in recent years.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.