Two Killed, More than 10 Injured in New York Building Collapse

At least two people have been killed and more than 10 others injured following the collapse of a three-storey apartment building in the Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York.

The incident occurred at about 4pm on Wednesday, November 11, when the four-unit residential building fell into an adjoining construction site where excavation work was underway.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed the fatalities, adding that injured victims had been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, with their conditions ranging from critical to non-life-threatening.

Fire Department Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore disclosed that authorities had identified 19 victims, including seven children, while a firefighter also sustained minor injuries during the rescue operation.

She said emergency responders were yet to establish how many people remained trapped beneath the debris or the total number of missing persons.

The building, which was constructed in 1930, collapsed into the neighbouring excavation site, although the precise cause of the incident had not been determined.

Fire Department Chief John Esposito said a firefighting crew working nearby arrived at the scene within a minute of the collapse and helped rescue the first victims.

Rescue teams subsequently deployed search dogs and other equipment to comb through the wreckage in search of survivors.

Local television reports indicated that at least four people were pulled from the rubble between two and two-and-a-half hours after the incident, including a pregnant woman.

More than 250 firefighters and emergency personnel were deployed to the scene as authorities continued the search and recovery operation.

Esposito warned that the operation could take several days because of the extent of the destruction and the need to carefully examine unstable sections of the wreckage.

Meanwhile, the city's Department of Buildings deployed inspectors to assess the structural stability of neighbouring properties and assist with recovery efforts.

Officials said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse.