Information checked: November 12, 2026, 4:07 a.m. New York time, Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−05:00); 9:07 a.m. UTC. Casualty figures and rescue conditions can change as officials release further information.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Emergency crews continued searching a collapsed three-story building in Flatbush after Wednesday afternoon’s disaster killed at least two people and injured 17, according to the latest figures reported from city officials. Four of the injured were in critical condition. Firefighters were working through unstable wreckage near Flatbush and Bedford avenues as authorities examined neighboring structures and warned the public to stay away from the response zone.
The building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, containing commercial space at street level and apartments above, collapsed into an excavation site at 2625 Bedford Avenue shortly after 4 p.m. on November 11, 2026, in New York (EST, UTC−05:00), equivalent to shortly after 9 p.m. UTC. The cause has not been determined. The adjacent construction activity is part of the investigation, not an established explanation for the collapse.
The emergency response began Wednesday afternoon and grew into an extensive technical rescue operation. Firefighters, police, emergency medical personnel and search specialists worked in and around the broken structure. The Associated Press reported that roughly 250 firefighters and police officers took part in the response and that crews used search dogs, drones, power tools and careful manual debris removal. The number describes the reported operation, not a confirmed number of people still trapped.
Rescuers pulled several people from the rubble, including a woman brought out on a stretcher around 6:30 p.m. EST on November 11 (11:30 p.m. UTC). Television reporting captured the rescue, but the person’s identity and subsequent medical condition should not be inferred from footage alone. Authorities said the search could extend over several days because debris may shift and further collapse remains a danger.
At an overnight briefing, Fire Department Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore described 19 known victims in the incident, including two fatalities; seven children were among those treated, and one firefighter suffered minor injuries. In public reports, “19 victims” refers to the combined total of 2 deaths and 17 injured people rather than 19 additional injuries. These are preliminary figures subject to official revision.
The collapsed building was identified in multiple reports as 1321 Flatbush Avenue, close to the intersection with Bedford Avenue in the Flatbush neighborhood. The structure fell toward an open lot at 2625 Bedford Avenue, where excavation and development work had been taking place. The adjacent building at 1323 Flatbush Avenue also sustained significant damage, with interior rooms exposed, according to reporting based on statements from the New York Police Department.
The NYPD and emergency management officials advised drivers, pedestrians and onlookers to avoid the Flatbush–Bedford intersection and expect road closures, detours and delays. No complete, time-verified list of every closed street was available in the sources checked. Commuters should follow barricades and current city notifications rather than relying on a fixed map of closures from the first evening.
Initial reports Wednesday described trapped occupants and a smaller injury count. As searches progressed, the verified figures rose to two people killed and 17 injured, four critically. Officials said additional people could still be unaccounted for, but they had not confirmed that anyone remained trapped. That uncertainty is important: an active search does not, by itself, establish a new casualty or missing-person count.
The response also expanded beyond rescue. New York City Department of Buildings personnel assessed neighboring structures for instability while police maintained an exclusion area. The city’s emergency management coordination was intended to support displaced residents and relatives seeking information as well as first responders working in a dangerous environment.
There is no confirmed cause at the time of this update. Officials said an investigation involving the Department of Buildings and law enforcement was underway. Excavation at the neighboring construction site is a documented circumstance, but it would be premature to declare that the work caused the failure. Structural findings, permits, inspection records, engineering analysis and witness accounts will need to be considered before investigators can draw conclusions.
Early reporting described plans at the adjoining site and prior construction-related records, but a prior citation or approved permit alone does not prove responsibility for the collapse. Residents should be wary of social posts presenting unverified explanations as facts, especially while investigators are still collecting evidence and stabilizing the area.
According to a publicly mirrored Notify NYC notice issued at 8:56 p.m. EST on November 11 (1:56 a.m. UTC November 12), New York City Emergency Management opened a reception center at 1401 Flatbush Avenue for people affected by the collapse. The city also activated its Unified Victim Identification System. People worried about someone who may have been affected and whom they cannot reach were directed to call 311; callers outside New York City may use 212-639-9675. Confirm that the center remains open and ask about current assistance before traveling there.
Anyone who sees a fresh structural hazard or another immediate threat should keep clear and call 911. Do not enter damaged properties to retrieve belongings, approach unstable walls, or cross emergency tape. Residents with potentially affected homes should request official clearance before returning. People traveling through the neighborhood should monitor police directions and NYC Emergency Management for guidance.
The immediate priorities are completing the search safely, treating those injured, stabilizing the wreckage and determining whether nearby buildings are safe to occupy. Authorities may update the casualty figures or missing-person information as they reconcile hospital records and family reports. An engineering investigation will determine whether construction activity, building conditions or another factor contributed; none of those findings should be treated as established before the investigation concludes.
For residents and travelers, the most immediate impact is continued disruption around the intersection. The duration of the search, street restrictions and any possible displacement from neighboring buildings remained uncertain at the time of checking. This article reflects the verified overnight picture, not a guarantee that conditions will remain unchanged later on November 12.
As of the checked overnight updates on November 12, officials reported two deaths and 17 injuries, including four critical injuries. These figures may change.
No. The cause remains under investigation. A nearby excavation site has been identified, but investigators have not established that it caused the collapse.
Call New York City 311, or 212-639-9675 from outside the city. A reception center was announced at 1401 Flatbush Avenue; confirm its current status before visiting.
Information was checked against Associated Press reporting on the rescue and official briefing, Reuters reporting on November 12, WABC’s direct reporting and live updates and New York City Emergency Management. The reception-center and hotline details were also cross-checked against a reproduction of a Notify NYC alert; readers should verify live service availability with the city.
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