New York: A building collapse in Brooklyn, New York City, has killed at least two people and left several others injured, as firefighters continue search-and-rescue operations for people potentially trapped beneath the debris.
The three-storey mixed-use building collapsed in the Flatbush neighbourhood, an area with a predominantly Black and Afro-Caribbean population. The incident prompted a large emergency response, with rescue operations beginning at around 4 pm on November 11.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani shared updates on the emergency response through social media and urged residents to stay away from the affected area.
According to Mamdani, emergency responders reached the site within one minute of receiving the first emergency call. New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Chief John Esposito stated that the firefighters were returning from another nearby emergency when they arrived and immediately began search-and-rescue efforts.
FDNY officials reported that four victims were in critical condition, while 12 others were in stable condition. One firefighter was also receiving treatment for minor injuries. Rescue teams deployed a drone to help locate additional victims.
The building collapsed into an adjacent construction site, trapping both residents and construction workers, according to New York City Fire Department Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. A pregnant woman was among those rescued from the site.
Meanwhile, New York City’s Emergency Management Department established an assistance centre at the local Flatbush YMCA to support people affected by the incident. Police officers were also deployed to secure the area, while emergency medical personnel worked alongside firefighters.
Bonsignore added that rescue crews were operating under dangerous conditions and needed to proceed cautiously to avoid disturbing unstable debris that could put trapped individuals and responders at further risk.
The commissioner added that the rescue effort would require a prolonged operation. The cause of the building collapse remains under investigation.
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