At least eight people died, and 18 others were injured after a three-story building collapsed into a neighboring construction site in Brooklyn, New York. Emergency crews continued searching the wreckage Thursday, with officials warning that others might still be missing.
The building at 1321 Flatbush Ave. collapsed shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday, sending debris into an excavation at 2625 Bedford Ave., WABC reported, citing the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). The building housed a ground-floor store and apartments.
Death Toll Climbs As Search Continues
Rescuers recovered six bodies from the debris, and two people died at a hospital. Four victims found Thursday were believed to be construction workers, WABC reported. Two injured people remained in critical condition, and seven children were among those treated.
One of the deceased was construction worker Jose Luis Caguana, whose family identified him to news outlets. He leaves behind a pregnant wife and a young child, the Associated Press reported.
Pregnant Woman Rescued
A woman who was six months pregnant was among those pulled from the rubble alive. Her husband had searched for her along Flatbush Avenue before learning at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday that she had survived, WABC reported. She was taken by ambulance for medical treatment.
“I have an update. She is alive, she is still alive. I am very happy,” the husband told WABC. The station did not identify the couple.
The collapse also damaged the building at 1323 Flatbush Ave., leaving apartments exposed after part of its exterior wall fell away. That building remained standing, the station reported.
Construction Site Had Previous Violations
Workers were excavating the neighboring property when the building collapsed. City officials have issued a full stop-work order at the site, which had an active permit for excavation and foundation work, WABC reported.
The city had previously halted demolition work in March over inadequate safeguards for neighboring properties. Inspectors found work had resumed in violation of that order in April. The city allowed work to resume in May after the problems were corrected, the Associated Press reported, citing city records.
The Department of Buildings and law enforcement are investigating the cause. Authorities have not determined whether the excavation or earlier violations contributed to the collapse.
North Texas Saw Fatal Excavation Accident
A separate construction accident near Coppell killed a 29-year-old worker in June, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. A tunnel being dug beneath the foundation of an apartment building at Sage Hill Apartments collapsed, trapping the worker. In that incident, the building itself remained standing.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
