Brooklyn Building Collapse: Rescue Effort and Casualty Reports Update | Nov. 12

Updated: Nov. 12, 2026, 1:44 a.m. GMT (UTC+00:00); New York City, Nov. 11, 2026, 8:44 p.m. EST (UTC−05:00).

Emergency crews continued searching the rubble after a three-story building collapsed in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon. The latest ABC7 update, posted at 1:13 a.m. GMT, reported multiple deaths and at least 12 people injured, including six in critical condition. Earlier accounts reported one death, so the casualty total is not yet consistent across reports. The rescue operation and official accounting remain in progress. ABC7’s live updates and Associated Press reporting describe the response.

The collapse occurred around 4 p.m. on Nov. 11 near Flatbush and Bedford Avenues. The New York City Department of Buildings said inspectors were at the scene assisting with recovery and checking nearby structures for stability. Police have asked people to avoid the area, where streets are closed. The image below is an illustrative scene, not a photograph of the incident.

What happened in the Flatbush building collapse?

A three-story building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue fell beside an open construction site at 2625 Bedford Avenue, according to ABC7. The New York City Fire Department received the first 911 call at 4:01 p.m., according to ABC News. The adjacent construction lot was being excavated, and the collapsed structure came down into the site. Those details describe the location and sequence reported so far; they do not establish why the building failed.

Emergency crews were sent to the scene after reports that people were trapped. Firefighters worked through debris, and a survivor was pulled from the rubble at about 6:30 p.m., according to AP. ABC7 reported that firefighters continued searching later in the evening. The department’s response involves both immediate rescue and the careful handling of unstable debris, where sudden movement could threaten trapped people or responders.

How many people were killed or injured?

As of the latest update reviewed for this article, ABC7 reported multiple deaths and 12 injured people, six of them in critical condition. Earlier in the evening, AP reported one death, four people taken to hospital in critical condition and six with less serious injuries. The figures reflect reporting at different times and have not been reconciled in a single updated official tally available in the sources reviewed. This article therefore attributes each count to its report rather than presenting one number as settled.

The building reportedly contained a ground-floor business and at least one apartment above it. Accounts also describe workers and residents among those affected. Authorities have not published a complete accounting of everyone who may have been inside or nearby when the structure fell.

What caused the collapse, and what is being inspected?

The cause has not been confirmed. The building stood beside an excavation and construction project, but proximity alone does not show that the work caused the collapse. Investigators will need to examine the building, the construction site, relevant permits and records, and the physical evidence before drawing conclusions.

The Department of Buildings said its inspectors were checking the structural stability of nearby buildings while supporting recovery operations. That inspection matters because the collapse may have damaged shared walls or affected neighboring structures. AP reported that an adjoining building remained standing but had a wall damaged, exposing rooms inside. Authorities have not announced a final safety assessment or an investigation finding.

What should people nearby know?

Police are asking the public to stay away from Flatbush and Bedford Avenues while emergency activity and street closures continue. Avoiding the perimeter gives fire, police, medical and building-safety teams room to work and reduces traffic around the response. Residents and businesses in the immediate area should follow instructions from responders and city agencies; conditions can change as inspectors assess buildings and crews move equipment.

For readers outside New York, the collapse happened on Wednesday, Nov. 11, during the afternoon in New York City (EST, UTC−05:00). The newest ABC7 update cited here was posted Thursday, Nov. 12, at 1:13 a.m. GMT (UTC+00:00). Rescue and casualty information is developing, and later official updates may change the figures reported here.

Frequently asked questions

Where did the Brooklyn building collapse happen?

It happened in Flatbush near Flatbush and Bedford Avenues, beside a construction site.

Is the rescue operation over?

Not according to the latest update reviewed: firefighters were still searching the rubble.

Has the cause been confirmed?

No. The cause remains under investigation, and authorities have not announced a finding.

Sources: ABC7 New York live updates; ABC News report quoting city authorities; Associated Press.