Residential building collapses in New York, killing eight
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on France 24, La Nouvelle Tribune and Bénin Web TV
A residential building collapsed into an adjacent construction site in Brooklyn, New York, killing eight people, including two children, according to France 24. The death toll given on Thursday by Mayor Zohran Mamdani also included 17 injured people, including three firefighters.
The three-storey building, at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, collapsed on Wednesday at around 4pm into an excavation on the adjacent site. It housed four apartments and a ground-floor shop. Several occupants were rescued alive, including a pregnant woman and a family with two young children.
About 250 firefighters and rescue workers took part in the search, using dogs, drones and cutting tools. Four injured people had been taken into care in critical condition and seven children were among those affected. Part of the wall of an adjoining building was also torn away, leaving some rooms exposed to the outside.
Authorities are examining the conditions of the work and the stability of surrounding structures. Municipal Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani confirmed that workers were on the site at the time of the collapse. Fire Chief John Esposito said a full examination of the site could take several days.
