At least two people were killed and several are fighting for their lives after a building caved in in Brooklyn.
A massive search and rescue operation is ongoing in the New York neighborhood after the three-storey building collapsed, killing at least two.
The mixed-use building came down at about 4pm local time (9pm in the UK) in Flatbush, burying dozens of people.
At least 17 people have been injured, including seven children. Four people were taken to the hospital in critical condition, while two people were pulled out of the rubble dead.
The cause of the sudden collapse is not yet known.
Firefighters warned that the number of casualties could rise as the wreckage is combed through.
Footage shows firefighters and rescuers desperately searching through the site at the corner of Bedford and Flatbush Avenues where the building stood. A nearby construction site buckled as well.
An emotional husband broke down in tears and was supported by onlookers as he had arrived to the site trying to find his wife.
He ran to the building before finding out in front of cameras that his wife had survived.
‘I’m very happy, she’s six months pregnant,’ the visibly shocked man said.
While the names of those killed have not been publicly revealed, one man said his brother was among the dead.
The brother, Jose Luis Caguana, a 26-year-old immigrant from Ecuador, had been working in construction to support his family, the man told NBC News.
He was the father of a young child and his pregnant wife was due to have their second child soon.
Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore from the New York City Fire Department described the wreckage comprising of the building and the construction site as ‘extremely dangerous.’
She said: ‘Multiple people from the building and the construction site were trapped.
‘This will be a prolonged operation. Collapse operations are extremely dangerous. Every move is choreographed and critically important to patient outcomes and member safety. Members have been working methodically and haven’t stopped since they arrived this afternoon.’
New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, described the incident as ‘tragic building collapse.’
He said: ‘Two of our neighbors have lost their lives, and at least 17 others have been injured, including one firefighter.
‘My heart is with the families and loved ones mourning those we have lost. I am also wishing a full and speedy recovery to everyone who was injured.
‘This has been a whole-of-government response. I want to thank the first responders who arrived in under a minute and have spent hours working in dangerous and highly technical conditions to rescue New Yorkers. Their courage and dedication are extraordinary.’
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