Brooklyn building collapse: 19 dead, including seven children

On Tuesday at around 4:00 p.m. local time (10:00 p.m. Central European Time), a three-story building collapsed in the Flatbush neighborhood in central Brooklyn, New York. According to CNN, 19 people died, including at least seven children and one pregnant woman.

A fire department spokesperson said the ground floor housed a shop, with four apartments above it. The building was constructed in 1930 and stood next to a construction site.

What is known about the cause

The exact cause of the collapse is still unknown. New York State Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn said she had no details, but that the building had probably not been properly maintained for years.

Rescue operation enters second day

Video from the scene shows firefighters pulling one of the victims from a pile of debris. Rescuers are using drones and search dogs. By 7:00 p.m., about 250 firefighters and emergency personnel were working at the site.

Fire Commissioner John Esposito called the operation “extremely dangerous for all of our people” and the situation “very unstable.” According to him, the neighboring building also poses a threat: it partially survived but could collapse. Firefighters will remain at the site for several days, until the rubble is cleared and all possible victims are found.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said rescuers are “working quickly to secure the site of the tragedy and to help residents.”

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz