Brooklyn building collapse: At least 8 dead and 17 injured as rescuers search for survivors; pregnant woman pulled from rubble

At least eight people died and 17 others were injured Wednesday, when a three-story building collapsed in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City.

The four-unit apartment building crumpled into a construction site next to it at about 4 p.m. ET.

Four people were in a critical condition, and three firefighters were also injured. At least seven of those injured were children, officials said, with at least 17 people taken to a hospital.  Authorities did not confirm if any of children were among those killed.

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In a post on X Thursday morning, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, "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."

Two deaths were announced on Wednesday, with six further deaths confirmed Thursday.

Rescuers searched for survivors into the night with about 250 first responders at the scene. "We'll continue to look until we find everybody," FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said. A spokesperson for the FDNY told the New York Times Thursday that rescuers were still hoping to find survivors.

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A pregnant woman was among those pulled out of the rubble. Footage broadcast by CBS News New York showed her being taken away on a stretcher more than two hours after the building collapsed, while her husband waited in anguish.

"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," he told CBS News New York after she was rescued. "She's pregnant, six months."

Earlier, the man had been seen frantically looking for her. "I've heard nothing. She's inside the building. She's pregnant," he told reporters.

One resident, Anderson Velez, told the New York Post he was at work in the Bronx when his wife called him and said their children, ages 7 and 2, were trapped.

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"She called me when the building collapsed while she was inside with rubble on top of her. She was screaming for someone to help get my son out and then the call cut off," he said, confirming his family was now safe.

An eyewitness, Melissa Orna, told The New York Times: "The whole building started shaking, and then it just fell."

The 1930s building fell into an adjoining construction site, where excavation work was ongoing. The cause of the collapse is under investigation, said John Esposito, the city's fire department chief. He said rescue teams may need to take several days to search the site for all potential victims.

Officials have described the search and rescue mission as "very dangerous," with firefighters and police officers punching holes through rubble in the search for survivors.

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"Multiple people from the building and the construction site were trapped," Bonsignore said. "This will be a prolonged operation. Collapse operations are extremely dangerous. Every move is choreographed and critically important to patient outcomes and member safety. Members have been working methodically and haven't stopped since they arrived."

No official cause for the collapse has been released.

Mamdani said at a news conference Wednesday night that rescue workers arrived on the scene within one minute of receiving the 911 call. He also confirmed the fatalities and said that injured people had been transported to local hospitals.

"This has been an incredibly challenging and fast-moving situation - with precarious wreckage to navigate and dangerous voids beneath the surface," he said, adding, "This type of rescue is exactly what the FDNY trains for."

He also asked New Yorkers to "please take a moment to pray for those who passed away today and all of those who are mourning their loss."

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