Rescue and search operations following the collapse of a three-story building in Brooklyn, New York, concluded the day after the incident. The final death toll stands at eight, including two children.
According to ABC News, citing the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), authorities determined there were no additional victims and ended the rescue efforts on the afternoon of November 12.
The collapse occurred on November 11 near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Flatbush Avenue in the Flatbush neighborhood. Part of the three-story building fell toward an adjacent construction site, where workers were conducting excavation activities at the time, as reported by Yonhap News.
Of the eight deceased, six were found at the scene, four of whom were recovered overnight. The remaining two died after being transported to the hospital. Among the victims were two children, aged 9 and 10, while the other six were adults aged 22 to 31. New York City Mayor Joran Mamdani confirmed that two of the victims were construction workers.
At least 18 people were injured, including four firefighters. One individual was reported to be in critical condition as of the morning of November 12.
During a press conference on November 12, Mayor Mamdani expressed condolences, stating, "They were our friends and neighbors." He noted that construction workers who narrowly escaped helped rescue victims from the debris, adding, "Thanks to their heroic actions yesterday, there are people alive today."
Before concluding the search, Lillian Bonsignore, the New York City Fire Commissioner, stated, "We have not yet transitioned from rescue to recovery mode," indicating that searches would continue under the large debris despite heavy rain.
The exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation. However, it has been revealed that the construction site adjacent to the incident had repeatedly violated safety regulations this year. According to Yonhap News, the site received a stop-work order in March for conducting demolition without protective measures for nearby buildings. In April, it was caught resuming work in violation of that order. Authorities allowed work to resume in May after issues were addressed, but the site ultimately led to a tragic incident with significant loss of life about six months later.
Mayor Mamdani has ordered safety inspections at approximately 100 city construction sites associated with the companies involved in this project.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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