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Disasters

Three-story Brooklyn building collapses next to construction site, killing at least one person

Firefighters kept searching the rubble in Flatbush for trapped people, and the cause of the collapse is not known.

24 news outlets reported this
Liberal8 outletsThe rescue under way and firefighters diggingCenter7 outletsOne dead, a trapped survivor and open questionsConservative9 outletsCasualty counts, eyewitnesses and officials at the scene
ABRAnews EditorialPublished 1 min readMoney and daily life
Overview

A three-story building collapsed on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the edge of a construction site in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. At least one person died. According to the fire department, as cited in the AP report, at least four others were taken to hospitals in critical condition and six more with minor injuries.

Other reports count at least 10 and at least 12 injured. Dozens of firefighters dug through the rubble by hand and with saws, and rescuers used dogs. The AP reports that firefighters later pulled a living person from a hole in the pile.

Newsweek, citing WABC, reports that one injured person remained trapped and was communicating with rescuers. The building stood beside a lot where a one-story building had been torn down and was being excavated. The cause is not known.

Newsweek, citing NY1, reports that city records show the neighboring project drew violations in May, including work during a stop-work order, but officials have not established whether they played a role. The architect, property owner and general contractor were asked for comment. Mayor Zohran Mamdani asked residents to avoid the area.

Key figures
  • 4:01 p.m.time of the first 911 call, per the FDNYABC News
  • at least fourothers in critical condition, by the fire department's countThe Seattle Times
  • Six additional peopletaken to hospitals with minor injuries, by the fire department's countThe Seattle Times
  • at least 12injured, per a fire department spokesperson cited by the Washington ExaminerWashington Examiner
  • 250fire and EMS personnel on site, per the Washington ExaminerWashington Examiner

Three sides of the story

8Liberal7Center9Conservative

24 news outlets reported this

Tap a color or swipe sideways to switch sides.

Liberal8 outlets

The rescue under way and firefighters digging

ABC News leads with the fire department's account: it is responding to reports of people trapped after a collapse in Flatbush, and the first 911 call came at 4:01 p.m. It places firefighters in a construction pit near Flatbush and Bedford Avenues and notes one person pulled out on a stretcher. The Guardian runs a wire report headlined as killing "at least one" and trapping others, giving the fire department's count of one dead, four critical and six with minor injuries. The Independent centers on rescuers sifting debris beside the construction zone, with what appeared to be a power saw, search dogs and flashlights after dark.

The Guardian and the Independent both say they tried to reach the architect, the property owner and the general contractor tied to the project in city records, by phone and email. ABC and the Independent label it a developing story.

Center7 outlets

One dead, a trapped survivor and open questions

Newsweek's headline puts one dead first. Its report, citing WABC, says at least 10 were injured and one person remained trapped but was communicating with rescuers. It adds Buildings Department records cited by NY1 showing the neighboring project drew violations in May, and says officials have not established whether they played a role.

BBC News headlines one dead and 12 injured. Citing its US partner CBS News, it says at least one individual died and ten other people were hurt, and it includes aerial footage of a survivor being extracted. The Seattle Times runs the AP report: dozens of firefighters scouring debris, a dust-covered person pulled out alive at about 6:30 p.m., and Mayor Zohran Mamdani asking people to keep the community in mind, "holding our neighbors and the members of this community in our hearts."

NewsNation's headline says one dead and several hurt, with the building reportedly collapsing into an open construction site.

Conservative9 outlets

Casualty counts, eyewitnesses and officials at the scene

The Washington Examiner cites a fire department spokesperson: one found dead, at least 12 injured and others trapped, with six in critical condition as of 6:30 p.m. and 250 fire and EMS personnel on site. It quotes eyewitness Ace Rogers, who heard "two loud bangs." The New York Post leads with one dead and three critically injured and gives space to resident Anthony Velez, who said his wife and two children were caught under the wreckage and were rescued and expected to be okay.

Fox News reports one dead, 10 injured and four critical, and carries statements from Mamdani and Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, who wrote "We’re praying for the safety of anyone who may be trapped." Townhall's piece is mostly embedded posts from FDNY, CBS, ABC and Fox saying people were trapped and a major technical rescue operation was under way.

Money and daily life

For people in the area, the NYPD advised staying off Bedford and Flatbush avenues due to and slowdowns, and recommended that drivers look at other roads. Fox News quotes Mayor Zohran Mamdani saying Flatbush Avenue is closed from Clarendon Road to Bedford Avenue. Newsweek reports that Buildings Department inspectors are checking the stability of nearby buildings.

All sources: 46 articles from 24 outlets

Liberal (14)

Center (13)

Conservative (19)

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