BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A massive search-and-rescue operation is underway in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn after a three-story building suffered a catastrophic collapse late Wednesday afternoon, leaving one person dead and multiple others trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. at a building located on Bedford Avenue, situated between Newkirk and Flatbush avenues. Fire Department of New York (FDNY) officials confirmed that at least 10 people sustained injuries in the collapse. Of those injured, four victims are currently in critical condition, while six others are being treated for minor injuries.
First responders are currently engaged in a high-stakes technical rescue mission. Chopper footage from the scene reveals the scale of the destruction: an entire side of the structure has been sheared away, exposing stairwells and the interiors of individual apartments to the elements. Dozens of firefighters could be seen navigating the site, carefully sifting through the debris by hand in a desperate search for survivors.
The New York City Department of Buildings has dispatched its commissioner and a team of investigators to the site. Their mandate is twofold: to assist in the ongoing recovery efforts and to conduct emergency structural stability inspections on adjacent buildings, which may have been compromised by the collapse.
While the exact cause of the tragedy remains under investigation, attention is already turning to recent construction activity at the address. City records reveal that a violation was issued at the site in April after a demolition contractor allegedly continued work despite a city-issued stop-work order. While that specific violation is now marked as resolved, records indicate that construction has continued at the location since the earlier demolition efforts.
Glenn Corbett, an associate professor of fire science at John Jay University, observed that early imagery suggests excavation work may have been taking place immediately adjacent to the building.
“When you’re actually digging down very deep into the ground next to an existing building, that can often present a lot of precarious problems of destabilizing an existing building,” Corbett said. “If proper precautions aren’t taken, sometimes this is what happens.”
Officials are urging the public to avoid the area surrounding Bedford Avenue to allow for emergency vehicle access. Drivers should anticipate significant traffic delays and ongoing road closures throughout the evening.
As the sun sets over the site, the rescue operation continues with heavy equipment and search teams working under floodlights. Authorities have cautioned that further details remain limited as the focus remains entirely on locating those still missing in the wreckage.
Stay with CBS News New York for the latest on this developing story.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
