Mamdani confirms eight dead as rescue crews continue search at Brooklyn collapse site

• Three firefighters were among those injured.
• The three-story building collapsed in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighbourhood on Wednesday.
• More than 250 emergency responders took part in the overnight rescue operation.

At least eight people have been killed and 17 others injured after a three-story building collapsed in Brooklyn, New York, prompting an overnight search-and-rescue operation as emergency crews worked to locate anyone who might still be trapped beneath the rubble.

The building collapsed on Wednesday afternoon in the Flatbush neighbourhood, near an adjacent construction site. The disaster prompted a large-scale response involving firefighters, paramedics and other emergency personnel, with more than 250 responders involved in the operation.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed the death toll in a statement on Thursday, saying rescue workers had spent the night searching through the wreckage under extremely dangerous conditions. Three firefighters were among those injured, according to the mayor.

The collapse sent much of the building into a neighbouring excavation site, complicating rescue efforts. Emergency crews used search dogs, drones and specialised equipment to navigate the unstable debris and look for survivors.

The city's Department of Buildings is investigating the cause of the collapse, including whether excavation work at the adjacent construction site contributed to the disaster. Officials have not yet established what caused the building to fall.

Mamdani expressed condolences to the victims' families and those injured, urging residents to stay away from the area while rescue operations continued. He also asked anyone unable to reach someone they believed might have been affected to contact New York City's 311 service.

"Rescue operations are ongoing," the mayor said, adding that the city was supporting affected families and emergency personnel.

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. Rescue operations are ongoing. Please stay clear of the area and keep those affected, and our first responders risking their lives in these efforts, in your thoughts. If you are unable to reach someone you believe may have been affected by the collapse, please call 311. If you are outside New York City, call 212-639-9675

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) November 12, 2026