Brooklyn Building Collapse Kills 5, Injures 19: Flatbush Search Continues
Five people were killed and 19 injured in the Flatbush building collapse in Brooklyn, as firefighters recovered three more bodies from the rubble overnight.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Andromeda2064
BROOKLYN, Nov. 12 — Five people were killed and 19 others injured when a three-story building collapsed in the Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon, New York City officials said, after firefighters recovered three more bodies from the rubble overnight.
The building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, near Bedford Avenue, fell at about 4 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, November 11, tumbling into the excavation at the construction site next door at 2625 Bedford Avenue. The first emergency call came in at 4:01 p.m., and a firefighting crew that happened to be nearby reached the scene within a minute.
- Five people were killed; the fourth and fifth victims were found just after 6 a.m. on Thursday, within minutes of each other, the Fire Department said.
- Nineteen people were taken to hospital, including seven children; four were in critical condition.
- Rescuers pulled a survivor alive from the debris at about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, more than two hours after the collapse; a pregnant woman was among those rescued.
- The cause has not been established; Department of Buildings investigators are at the scene, and officials warned the toll could rise as the search continues.
How Did the Brooklyn Building Collapse in Flatbush?
The facade of the three-story building tumbled down at about 4 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Fire Department, sending debris into the open excavation next door. People were reported trapped beneath the rubble, and the department sent a major technical rescue response, with more than 250 firefighters and emergency medical workers at the scene.
The New York Police Department urged people to avoid the area around Bedford Avenue and Flatbush Avenue, just south of Prospect Park. City records show excavation permits for the adjoining site were issued in September 2026, and work there had drawn a violation for continuing during a stop-work order, though investigators have not linked that work to the collapse.
How Many People Were Killed and Injured in the Brooklyn Building Collapse?
| Figure | Confirmed by officials |
|---|---|
| Dead | 5, confirmed by the Fire Department on Thursday morning |
| Injured and hospitalised | 19, including seven children |
| Critical | 4 |
| Recovered Thursday | 3, the last two just after 6 a.m. |
| First call | 4:01 p.m. ET, Nov. 11 |
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene on Wednesday, and three more bodies were recovered from the rubble early on Thursday, the Fire Department said. The fourth and fifth victims were found within minutes of each other just after 6 a.m. None of the dead had been publicly identified by Thursday morning. Four were in critical condition. Seven children were among the injured, and one firefighter was treated for minor injuries.
About two and a half hours after the collapse, at about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, firefighters reached a survivor alive in the rubble and carried the person out on a stretcher. A pregnant woman, six months pregnant, was among those rescued. Officials said it was not yet clear how many people might still be inside the building, and anyone unable to reach affected loved ones was asked to call 311.
What Happens Next in the Brooklyn Building Collapse Investigation?
The Department of Buildings has sent investigators to the scene, and the Fire Department said its search could take several days. Chief of Department John Esposito said rescue teams would need several days to check the entire site.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the Department of Buildings and law enforcement agencies would investigate what caused the collapse. The collapse came in the same week as the sinking of the SS United States off the Florida coast and a federal fentanyl takedown in South Carolina that charged 36 people. Officials said the casualty figures could change as the search continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people died in the Brooklyn building collapse?
Five people died, the New York City Fire Department confirmed on Thursday morning: two on Wednesday and three more recovered from the rubble overnight.
How many people were injured in the Brooklyn building collapse?
Nineteen people were taken to hospital, including seven children; four were in critical condition.
Was anyone rescued alive from the Brooklyn building collapse?
Yes. Firefighters pulled a survivor alive from the debris at about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and a pregnant woman was among those rescued.
What caused the building collapse in Flatbush, Brooklyn?
The cause has not been established. The New York City Department of Buildings has sent investigators to the scene, but they have not linked the recent excavation work at the adjoining site to the collapse.
