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Building collapse in Brooklyn kills two, injures more than a dozen
A three-storey mixed-use building collapsed in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighbourhood on Wednesday, killing at least two people and injuring others. Firefighters are searching the rubble for survivors, while the cause of the collapse remains under investigation.
The building fell into an adjoining construction site, trapping residents and workers; a pregnant woman was rescued. Fire officials said four victims were in critical condition, 12 were stable and one firefighter had minor injuries. A drone is helping locate people, and officials warned the rescue could be prolonged because shifting the rubble too quickly could create further danger.
In short
- Two people were killed in the Brooklyn collapse.
- At least 16 victims were treated, alongside one firefighter.
- Rescue crews expect a prolonged search of the rubble.
Explained simply
Flatbush is a neighbourhood in Brooklyn, one of New York City’s five boroughs. Like many city neighbourhoods, it has homes alongside shops and other businesses, so a building can serve more than one purpose.
Building collapses can trap residents, workers and passers-by beneath heavy debris. Firefighters and other rescue teams must search for people while taking care not to disturb unstable rubble, which can put survivors and rescuers at further risk.
Investigators examine a collapse to establish what caused it, including whether the building’s condition or nearby construction played a part. The findings can inform safety checks and rules for buildings and construction sites.