One person has been killed and four others are in critical condition after a three-storey building collapsed in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday afternoon.

The building came down at around 4pm local time in the Flatbush area of the borough, next to an active construction site. Firefighters spent the evening digging through the rubble by hand, searching for anyone still trapped underneath.

01. What happened

The three-storey building stood at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, at the edge of a lot at 2625 Bedford Avenue where a one-storey building had been torn down for a construction project. Witnesses said the building fell into a pile of bricks and timber, leaving rooms exposed.

New York’s fire department (FDNY) said it received reports of people trapped shortly after 4pm. One person was pulled from the wreckage and pronounced dead at the scene. Four people were taken to hospital in critical condition, and six more were taken to hospital with minor injuries. One more person was treated at the scene.

02. Rescue and investigation

Rescue teams were still searching the site late into the evening, and officials warned the toll could change as the work continued.

The cause of the collapse was not immediately known. New York City’s Department of Buildings said its inspectors were on the scene, helping with the recovery and checking the stability of nearby buildings. City officials have opened a formal investigation into the site’s safety compliance, shoring measures and construction permits. Early reports suggest heavy excavation work next door may have undermined the older building’s foundations.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on X that first responders were working quickly to secure the area, and asked people to avoid Flatbush Avenue between Clarendon Road and Bedford Avenue.

03. Key facts

  • Where: 1321 Flatbush Avenue, Flatbush, Brooklyn
  • When: Around 4pm local time on Wednesday, 11 November (02:30 IST, Thursday)
  • Casualties: 1 dead, 4 in critical condition, 6 with minor injuries
  • Cause: Not yet known; under investigation

04. FAQs

How many people were hurt in the Brooklyn building collapse?
One person died and ten were injured — four in critical condition and six with minor injuries.

What caused the building to collapse?
The cause is not yet known. Investigators are looking at whether excavation work on the construction site next door weakened the building’s foundations.

Is the rescue operation still going on?
Yes. Firefighters were still searching through the rubble late on Wednesday evening, and officials said the casualty figures could change.