Survivor pulled from rubble after Brooklyn building collapse kills two

Rescuers pulled a survivor from the rubble of a collapsed building in Brooklyn as emergency crews searched for others trapped beneath the debris. Two people were killed in the collapse, according to the BBC report, while authorities cited by CBS News New York said at least 17 others were injured.

The three-story building on Flatbush Avenue collapsed shortly after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11. WABC reported that the structure fell into an open construction site next door at 2625 Bedford Avenue, prompting a search through the wreckage and checks on the stability of surrounding buildings.

CBS News New York reported that its cameras captured a survivor being brought out at about 6:15 p.m., more than two hours after the collapse. A man at the scene identified the survivor as his pregnant wife. The rescue offered a moment of relief while the wider search continued.

The damage extended beyond the building that fell. Police told CBS that the side of an adjoining building was torn away, and images showed exposed apartments and stairwells. Residents had been inside the collapsed structure, while people at the neighboring construction site were also among those trapped, officials said.

More than 250 firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded, according to CBS. Officials said the injured included seven children and a firefighter, with four patients in critical condition. The scale of the response reflected both the number of people affected and the difficulty of reaching people beneath unstable debris.

The search continued into the evening without a clear accounting of everyone who might have been inside. Hello! magazine reported that fire officials did not know the overall number of missing people. It also reported that unstable wreckage and dangerous spaces beneath the collapsed structure complicated efforts to reach survivors.

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke confirmed in a statement that the building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue had collapsed into the neighboring construction site. She said her office was monitoring developments and maintaining contact with local officials, first responders and Community Board 17. Clarke also offered assistance to affected residents and their families.

Authorities urged people to stay away so emergency personnel could work, with WABC reporting street closures around Flatbush and Bedford avenues. Clarke echoed that appeal, asking the public to give responders the space and resources needed for rescue operations. The disruption extended beyond the collapse site as crews worked to secure the surrounding area.

The cause remained under investigation, and the presence of construction next door did not establish what brought the building down. Hello! reported that city building officials were investigating and that excavation had been underway nearby. Further assessments were needed to determine the cause, while rescuers continued searching for anyone still trapped.