After a partial building collapse in Flatbush, eight people have been reported dead and 17 others injured as firefighters discovered more victims on the morning of Nov.12, according to abc7.
The collapse happened just after 4:00pm on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 1321 Flatbush Ave. The building fell into an open construction site at 2625 Bedford Ave., while workers were actively on the site.
According to The New York Times, the collapse sheared off the wall of an adjacent building, leaving a staircase, bedroom and closets exposed to the open air.
Patricia Starek, a Flatbush resident for 26 years, was waiting for her son to come home when she saw the helicopters at the scene, reported BBC.
“How does a building just fall into a pit?” Starek asked. “We all live here with the assumption that stairs are stable, floors are stable, that you can be on your third floor and not have the earth fall below you.”
The exact cause of the collapse remains unknown.
Rescuers pulled victims from the debris during the evening of the collapse, including several children and one pregnant woman.
Early on the morning of Nov. 12, workers pulled at least four more bodies out from the rubble, using K-9s to navigate the debris areas.
Around 250 firefighters were working at the scene following the collapse, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.
“I want to ask New Yorkers to please take a moment to pray for those who passed away today and all of those who are mourning their loss,” Mamdani said during an emergency press conference following the incident.
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clark, representing Flatbush and surrounding neighborhoods, said that her staff are closely monitoring the situation and remaining in communication with first responders and Community Board 17.
“My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, particularly those trapped beneath the rubble and their loved ones as they endure this difficult and uncertain time,” Clark said in a statement.
About 100 buildings in Flatbush around the rubble are now without water, reported CNN, while emergency crews continue operations at the site.
As of 9:30am on Thursday, Nov. 12, the Department of Buildings are at the scene and continue to investigate the fatal collapse.
