Massive NYC building collapse leaves 2 dead, 17 injured as firefighters search for survivors
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: At least two people were killed and 17 others injured after a three-story building collapsed in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood on Wednesday, November 11, as firefighters continued searching through the rubble for possible survivors.
The collapse occurred shortly after 4 pm near the intersection of Flatbush and Bedford avenues. The building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue fell into an adjacent excavation site at 2625 Bedford Avenue, according to officials.
Rescue teams search for people trapped beneath rubble
Of the 17 injured, four people were in critical condition, 12 were listed as stable, and one firefighter sustained minor injuries, FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said. Seven children were among those treated, although officials did not specify their conditions.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that two people had died.
Emergency crews launched a major technical rescue operation after receiving reports that multiple people were trapped following the collapse.
Firefighters used drones, search dogs and specialized equipment to locate possible survivors and clear debris. Rescuers also worked through unstable sections of the wreckage, with officials warning that the operation remained dangerous.
Several people were pulled from the rubble, including a woman who was reportedly six weeks pregnant. Her husband had been waiting at the scene for updates about her condition.
Collapse damaged neighboring building
The collapsed structure fell into an excavation site next door, while part of the wall of an adjacent three-story building was also sheared away, exposing apartments inside.
The collapsed building was constructed in 1930 and contained four apartments, according to reports. The neighboring construction site was being excavated for a planned development.
Authorities have not established what caused the collapse. The city's Department of Buildings sent inspectors to the scene to assist with recovery operations and assess the structural stability of nearby buildings.
I joined @fdny and emergency crews at the scene of today's tragic building collapse on Flatbush Avenue. Two of our neighbors have lost their lives, and at least 17 others have been injured, including one firefighter. My heart is with the families and loved ones mourning those we have lost. I am also wishing a full and speedy recovery to everyone who was injured. This has been a whole-of-government response. I want to thank the first responders who arrived in under a minute and have spent hours working in dangerous and highly technical conditions to rescue New Yorkers. Their courage and dedication are extraordinary. @nycemergencymgt and the @redcross have opened a reception center for impacted and displaced residents at the Flatbush YMCA, located at 1401 Flatbush Avenue. If you are unable to reach someone you believe may have been affected by the collapse, please call 311. If you are outside New York City, call 212-639-9675. Flatbush Avenue remains closed between Clarendon Road and Bedford Avenue. Please avoid the area so emergency crews can continue their work. This remains an active operation, with hundreds of rescue workers on site. Information is changing by the minute. We will share additional updates as details are confirmed.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) November 12, 2026
Mayor Mamdani urged New Yorkers to stay away from the affected area while emergency operations continued.
The New York Police Department also issued a traffic advisory, with road closures around Flatbush and Bedford avenues to allow rescue crews to work.
The FDNY said the search could be prolonged as responders continued checking void spaces and unstable sections of the debris for anyone who might still be trapped.
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation.
