Updated November 12, 2026, at 1:17 a.m. UTC (November 11, 8:17 p.m. EST in New York).
One person is dead and at least 12 people were injured after a three-story building collapsed beside a construction site in Flatbush, Brooklyn, on Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters conducted a major technical rescue, pulling people from the rubble while searching for anyone else who might be trapped. City building inspectors were also checking nearby structures for stability. Authorities have not publicly established what caused the collapse.
The building was at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, next to an open construction site at 2625 Bedford Avenue, according to WABC. Police asked the public to avoid the area around Flatbush and Bedford avenues as emergency work and street closures continued. WABC’s live updates reported one death and 12 injuries; The Associated Press separately reported one death, four people in critical condition and six with minor injuries. The injury counts differ across reports as information developed.
Illustrative image; it does not depict the verified collapse scene.
The FDNY said it received a collapse call at 4:01 p.m. Wednesday and dispatched a major technical rescue response. The building stood beside a site where a separate one-story structure had been demolished and excavation was underway. The AP reported that the collapsed building fell into the construction pit, leaving debris that firefighters searched by hand, with dogs and other equipment assisting.
WABC reported that the building contained a ground-floor store and at least one upstairs apartment. A nearby building remained standing, but its wall was damaged, exposing interior rooms. These details describe the scene; they do not establish why the structure failed.
During the evening, responders pulled survivors from the rubble. WABC reported a rescue shortly after 6:30 p.m. and said the search was continuing in its latest available update. The AP also described firefighters digging through debris after dark. The number and condition of everyone affected should be treated as provisional until authorities issue a final accounting.
So far, the confirmed public reporting connects the collapse spatially to an adjoining demolition and excavation project. That proximity is a reason investigators will examine the worksite and the building’s condition, but it is not proof that construction caused the collapse. The AP said it had sought comment from the architect, property owner and general contractor listed in city records. No final investigative finding was available in the sources reviewed for this update.
The city Department of Buildings had inspectors at the scene assessing the stability of nearby buildings, according to WABC and an ABC News report. Such inspections can determine whether adjoining structures are safe to occupy and whether additional protective actions are needed. Any evacuation, vacate order or reopening decision should come from city officials; residents should not infer safety from a neighboring building still standing.
Police asked people to avoid the area around Flatbush and Bedford avenues, and reports described street closures. Drivers and pedestrians should follow barricades and directions from police and emergency personnel. Closure boundaries and traffic conditions can change during rescue and inspection work, so check current city alerts before traveling through Flatbush.
Residents who are outside the restricted area should avoid approaching the scene to watch or record. Keep access routes clear for emergency vehicles. Anyone who sees an immediate structural danger or is trapped should call 911. NYC Emergency Management’s general guidance for a collapse is to move away from a damaged building; people trapped by debris should limit movement to avoid stirring dust, cover their nose and mouth if possible, and signal rescuers by tapping on a pipe or wall. These are general preparedness recommendations, not incident-specific instructions. NYC Emergency Management’s building-collapse guidance also advises following official announcements and staying out of damaged or restricted areas.
The immediate priorities are accounting for everyone who may have been inside, completing rescue operations, and checking the stability of adjacent buildings. After that, investigators can document the site, review permits and work records, and determine the sequence that led to the failure. Those steps take time; no cause or timeline for reopening nearby streets or buildings had been confirmed in the reporting available at this update.
For people living or working nearby, the practical next step is to rely on direct notices from city agencies and follow any evacuation or access restrictions. NYC Emergency Management says it may coordinate public information about road closures, evacuations and other impacts when a collapse affects the surrounding area. The city’s free Notify NYC service and 311 are listed as channels for emergency information. Conditions may change as officials complete their work.
It happened at 1321 Flatbush Avenue in the Flatbush neighborhood, beside a construction site at 2625 Bedford Avenue, according to WABC.
One person died. WABC reported at least 12 injured; other reports gave different injury breakdowns while the response was underway.
No. The collapse occurred next to a demolition and excavation site, but authorities had not announced a cause in the reports reviewed for this update.
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