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What we know about Brooklyn building collapse that killed eight people

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The three-storey structure at 1321 Flatbush Avenue gave way during ongoing groundwork next door, sending debris into a neighbouring pit where construction workers became trapped. Over 250 firefighters deployed to the scene in cold, rainy conditions to pull victims from the devastation, treating injured civilians and emergency personnel. While the collapsed property had no history of building violations, authorities are scrutinizing developer Robert Fischman's active excavation permits. The ongoing joint investigation has prompted municipal agencies to launch immediate safety inspections across at least 100 additional properties connected to the developer.

Key points

  • Authorities are actively investigating the cause of the structural failure to decide whet…: Authorities are actively investigating the cause of the structural failure to decide whether criminal charges will be filed.
  • The 1930s building had no registered code violations prior to falling into the active exc…: The 1930s building had no registered code violations prior to falling into the active excavation trench.
  • First responders and surviving labourers worked immediately alongside fire crews to extri…: First responders and surviving labourers worked immediately alongside fire crews to extricate individuals trapped under the collapsed debris.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

- Published

Eight people have died and 18 more were injured after a three-storey building collapsed in the Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn.

Witnesses described hearing a loud boom and seeing dust in the air as the building came down and fell into a construction pit where people were working on Wednesday.

The building - which contained apartments and a store - was adjacent to an active construction site.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, described a harrowing scene, saying workers "who had only barely survived themselves turned back and dug victims out of the rubble".

The city's fire commissioner, Lillian Bonsignore, said firefighters were on the scene within minutes and called their actions "incredibly heroic".

Speaking on Thursday, she said fire crews "are still in a recovery phase".

Despite the hard rain and falling temperatures at the site, she said, their efforts would continue until every victim was located.

Where is the collapsed building?

The building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn was constructed in the 1930s.

It was adjacent to a construction site where plans have been approved for a…

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