The death toll from Wednesday’s building collapse in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn has risen to eight, including two children, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Thursday, as firefighters kept digging through the rubble in the rain and city officials opened a joint investigation into what went wrong.
When Upstormed News reported on the collapse this morning (Brooklyn Building Collapse Kills at Least 6 as Search Goes On in Flatbush), at least six people had been confirmed dead. Since then, city leaders have confirmed a higher toll, released new details about who was killed, ordered all work stopped at the construction site next door and begun inspecting about 100 other building sites across the city tied to the same companies.
What’s new Thursday
- Eight dead: Mamdani said six adults and two children were killed. Six people died at the scene and two died at hospitals, according to CBS New York and Fox News.
- Workers among the victims: The mayor said at least two of those killed were construction workers at the neighboring site.
- 18 injured: The city’s latest count Thursday was 18 people hurt, 14 civilians and four firefighters, with one person in critical condition. Earlier counts had put the number at 17.
- Stop-work order and joint probe: The city Department of Buildings issued a full stop-work order at the construction site. The Buildings Department, the NYPD and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office have launched a joint investigation.
- Citywide sweep: The Buildings Department identified five companies tied to the project and began inspecting roughly 100 other sites linked to them.
What happened
The three-story, mixed-use building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, near Bedford Avenue, came down just after 4 p.m. Wednesday. It had a ground-floor business and apartments upstairs, and it fell into an open excavation pit next door at 2625 Bedford Avenue, where crews were digging the foundation for a new building.
About 250 firefighters, police officers and EMS workers responded. Crews worked through the night with search dogs, drones, power saws and bucket brigades, often digging by hand. At least four people were pulled from the debris in the first hours, including a pregnant woman who was conscious when she was rescued.
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said Thursday that the effort is still a rescue operation, not yet a recovery. Excavators and a grappler are now lifting the heaviest debris so searchers can reach spaces underneath. Fire Chief John Esposito said a full search of the site could take several days, according to Fox News.
What investigators are looking at
Officials have not said what caused the collapse. Much of the attention is on the excavation next door. City records cited in news reports show that the Bedford Avenue site received a stop-work order in March for demolition without enough overhead protection, and that inspectors found in April that demolition had resumed in violation of that order. Work was allowed to restart in May after the problems were fixed.
Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said the project held active excavation and foundation permits and that there were no earlier 311 complaints or open violations tied to the current phase of work, according to Fox News. NBC New York reported that approved plans covered a three-story building, while plans for a nine-story building had not been approved. The property owner, architect and general contractor had not responded to reporters’ requests for comment.
Building experts note that the collapsed structure was nearly 100 years old. A retired FDNY deputy chief told CBS New York that row buildings from that era depend on their neighbors for support, which is one reason digging next door is being examined closely.
Mamdani promised accountability. “We will hold them fully accountable,” he said of anyone found responsible, according to Fox News. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul pledged state support.
Weather adds to the danger
Rain moved into New York on Thursday, and storms are forecast into the evening, with wet weather lasting into Friday. Officials warned the rain could turn debris to mud and make the work slower and riskier. The same storm system is expected to bring cold rain and some mountain snow to much of the Northeast, as Upstormed News reported in its preview of the first snow and coldest air since spring.
Help for displaced neighbors
The city has issued vacate orders for 1323, 1325 and 1327 Flatbush Avenue. Residents of other nearby buildings who were briefly displaced have been allowed to return. The American Red Cross and the city opened a reception center at the Flatbush YMCA, and the city’s HRA Access Center at 495 Clermont Avenue is offering cash assistance, moving and storage help, SNAP and Medicaid. Flatbush Avenue remains closed between Clarendon Road and Bedford Avenue, and water mains were shut off for about 100 buildings.
Why it matters for families
- Many families live in older attached row houses next to construction sites. If you notice new cracks, doors that suddenly stick, or debris falling near your home, report it to your city’s buildings department or 311.
- Keep a “go bag” with medicines, documents and phone chargers in case you are ever told to leave your home quickly.
- Children who see the news may feel scared. A calm, simple explanation that rescuers and inspectors are working to keep people safe can help.
What to watch next
Crews will keep searching until every part of the site has been checked, and officials have not said how many people, if any, remain unaccounted for. Investigators are gathering materials, conducting interviews and reviewing photos and videos posted by the public. The results of the Buildings Department sweep of the 100 linked sites, and any charges or penalties, could come in the days ahead. Upstormed News will keep following this story.
Read more: Amtrak Train Strikes Vehicle in Western Springs, Ill., Killing 2 Students
Should cities inspect older buildings more closely when construction starts next door? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Sources: CBS New York, “Live updates on Brooklyn building collapse that killed 8 as search for survivors continues” (November 12, 2026); Fox News, “Rescuers search for survivors in massive Brooklyn building collapse” (November 12, 2026); NBC New York, “Flatbush collapse search and rescue recovers more bodies Thursday” (November 12, 2026); ABC7 New York, “Brooklyn building collapse in Flatbush live updates” (November 11-12, 2026)
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