Summary

  • Six adults and two children have been killed after a three-storey building collapsed in New York, mayor Zohran Mamdani says

  • Two of the dead were construction workers. A further 18 people were injured, four of whom are firefighters - see the scene before and after the incident

  • Firefighters arrived on the scene of the "devastating" incident in less than one minute, Mamdani says, as he calls for a "comprehensive and thorough" investigation into why the building collapsed

  • It's chaotic here - I can see the entire front portion of a building ripped off, says our reporter at the scene

  • A search and rescue operation continues - an official says: "We always assume there are more people there until we can access the ground"

Watch: Aerial video shows survivor being pulled from wreckage

Live Reporting

Edited by Oliver O'Connell in New York and Manish Pandey in London, with Madeline Halpert reporting from the scene

  1. Drones, dogs and chainsaws used in rescue operation that could last several days

    Firefighters searching through rubble.Getty Images

    Emergency crews searching through the rubble on Wednesday

    A massive search-and-rescue effort was scrambled to the scene yesterday, with more than 250 first responders in attendance.

    Crews worked overnight with the help of drones and sniffer dogs to search through the piles of rubble. They have also used axes and chainsaws in their efforts to locate victims or survivors.

    Firefighters and emergency crews remain at the scene today, they do not know how many are missing but New York Mayor Mamdani says it is "at least 17".

    The rescue mission has been described as "extremely dangerous" by New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.

    Rescuers say they anticipate the effort will last for several days.

  2. 'It scares me to death,' local resident tells BBC from scene

    Madeline Halpert
    Reporting from Brooklyn

    A woman in red-hooded coat, glasses and a face mask stands on a street next to a dumpster

    Ann Marie lives just a couple buildings behind the one that collapsed.

    She tells me she didn't hear it collapse but saw many lights from emergency vehicles arriving at the scene yesterday.

    She says the community is quiet and calm, with neighbours who “look out for each other”.

    “It scares me to death,” she says of the tragedy. “I’m shocked."

    "Right now, I'm really scared," she says. "Now that I'm seeing exactly this side of the building, you can imagine the fright of those people, what happened to do them."

  3. Water mains shut down to aid rescue efforts

    The Department of Environmental Protection has shut down city water mains so emergency crews can continue search and rescue operations at the building collapse in Brooklyn.

    In a post on X, New York City's official emergency notification system says that around 100 buildings are currently impacted.

  4. Authorities investigating cause of building's sudden collapse

    Emergency personnel work at the scene of a partial building collapse in New YorkReuters

    An investigation is ongoing to establish what caused the Brooklyn building, which contained apartments, to suddenly collapse.

    The BBC's US partner CBS News reports the structure was fully occupied by residents and construction workers were performing excavation work on a neighbouring site.

    It's not clear if any of the construction had anything to do with the collapse, and the buildings department says it is still investigating.

    CBS reports the condition of the building before its collapse its being reviewed. Investigators have said developers have active permits for excavation and foundation work associated with a new building project.

    It's unclear how much of the project had been completed when the neighbouring building collapsed.

    In a post on X, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez says: "We are working closely with the Department of Buildings and our law enforcement partners to determine whether any criminal conduct contributed to this tragedy."

  5. 'When I turned my back, I saw the whole building collapse,' recalls one witness

    Kenneilia Reid speaks to reporters about the building collapse in Brooklyn.AFPTV

    Kenneilia Reid says she saw dust in the air before the building came down.

    We've been hearing from more witnesses who say they saw the Brooklyn building fall down.

    Kenneilia Reid said that she started to see dust in the air as she walked by. "And when I turned my back, I saw the whole building collapse," she told AFP news agency.

    Another unnamed witness told the agency: "I saw four people taken on stretchers, I saw two construction workers and two babies - they were two months old."

  6. Hundreds of emergency workers involved in rescue efforts

    Emergency crews worked through the night at the site of the Brooklyn building collapse on Wednesday.

    New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani says emergency services responded to the incident "in under a minute".

    A collapsed building surrounded by emergency servicesReuters

    The rescue mission was described as "extremely dangerous" by New York City Fire Department commissioner Lillian Bonsignore

    Emergency services are working at the scene of the building collapseReuters

    More than 250 first responders have attended the scene of the collapse

    Firefighters cutting through material to reach trapped residentsReuters

    Rescue operations are ongoing at the Flatbush Avenue site today, where it is just past 08:30

  7. Rescue efforts still under way at the scene of the deadly building collapse

    Madeline Halpert
    Reporting from Brooklyn

    Emergency workers at the scene of a building collapse in New York.

    I've just arrived near the scene where a Brooklyn building collapsed last night.

    Earlier New York mayor Zohran Mamdani said eight people had been killed following the collapse.

    The scene is chaotic, with police cars blocking off many of the blocks nearby and people in the neighbourhood are out discussing the collapse.

    It’s a rare, tragic event to see so many people die from a building collapse in New York.

    Moving closer, I can see the entire front portion of a building ripped off.

    Fire department officials are surrounding the area as they appear to be still actively working to rescue people.

  8. What we know about the Brooklyn building

    The New York fire department (FDNY) says the address was at 1321 Flatbush Avenue in the south-eastern borough of New York state.

    The building was adjacent to a construction site, where plans had been approved for a new building. Active work was going on when the incident occurred, according to FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito.

    The BBC's US partner CBS News reports the Brooklyn building that collapsed was built in 1930, according to city records.

    A map showing the site of a collapsed building in New York, marking Brooklyn in the south and Manhattan in the north. There is a point marking the site of the collapsed building below the label for Brooklyn.

  9. Witness describes hearing 'big boom' followed by screams

    Witnesses at the scene describe hearing a terrifying sound as the building collapsed at about 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT).

    "I live literally right behind the building", Emmanuella Carilus told the New York Times. "It sounded like a big boom and you just heard a bunch of screaming."

    Another witness, named only as Dashik, said "I've never seen anything like this" when interviewed by local television station PIX 11.

    The husband of one woman who was filmed being rescued from the rubble spoke of his relief to CBS News New York

    "She is alive. She is still alive. I'm very happy. I'm very happy. I'm very happy. I thank all of you guys. She's pregnant, six months," he said.

  10. 'I am heartbroken that eight New Yorkers have now lost their lives' - NYC mayor Mamdani

    New York mayor Zohran Mamdani flanked by firefighters in helmets.EPA

    New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he is "heartbroken that eight New Yorkers" have died in the incident.

    Here's his post on X in full:

    "Rescue workers have spent the night searching the site of yesterday’s building collapse, working under extremely dangerous conditions to find and save anyone who may still be trapped.

    "I am heartbroken that eight New Yorkers have now lost their lives and at least 17 have been injured, including three firefighters. There are no words for a loss of this magnitude.

    "My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we have lost, those who are injured and everyone grieving today. Rescue operations are ongoing.

    "Please stay clear of the area and keep those affected, and our first responders risking their lives in these efforts, in your thoughts. If you are unable to reach someone you believe may have been affected by the collapse, please call 311. If you are outside New York City, call 212-639-9675."

  11. Eight dead after building collapse in New York City

    New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani says eight people have died and at least 17 have been injured after a building collapsed on Wednesday afternoon.

    In a post on X, the NYC Mayor says, "there are no words for a loss of this magnitude."

    Rescue operations are ongoing, and residents have been advised to stay clear of the area and keep those affected.