A three-story building in New York City collapsed into an adjacent construction site Wednesday afternoon, killing at least eight people and prompting a large-scale rescue effort that continued into the night.
The disaster unfolded in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood over several hours, beginning with the first 911 call and a frantic search for survivors before the death toll rose.
The collapse also drew renewed scrutiny to earlier construction violations at a neighboring development site.
First responders work at the scene of a collapsed building in Brooklyn, New York City, on Nov. 11, 2026. (kena betancur/AFP via Getty Images)
Here is how the Brooklyn building collapse and emergency response unfolded, in Eastern Time:
4:01 p.m.: Building collapses as first 911 call comes in
The New York Police Department said it received the first 911 call about the collapse at 1321 Flatbush Ave. at 4:01 p.m. The three-story mixed-use property fell into an excavation pit at a neighboring construction site. The impact also ripped away a wall at 1323 Flatbush Ave., exposing apartments and stairwells.
WATCH: FDNY launches massive response after deadly Brooklyn building collapse
4:02 p.m.: Firefighters arrive at the scene
New York City firefighters reached the site less than a minute after the collapse. Some FDNY personnel were already nearby. The building housed a ground-floor store with apartments on the floors above.
4:03 p.m.: City sends emergency alert
Notify NYC warned residents about heavy emergency activity, traffic delays and road closures in the surrounding area.
First responders work at the scene after a building collapsed in Brooklyn on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
4:30 p.m.: Reports say people are trapped in the rubble
Several news organizations reported that people were trapped beneath the collapsed structure as FDNY crews mounted an extensive rescue operation.
6:15 p.m.: Firefighters locate conscious woman beneath debris
A CBS New York camera recorded firefighters speaking with a woman covered in dust after they broke through part of the collapsed wall.
First responders work at the scene after a building collapsed in Brooklyn on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
6:30–6:33 p.m.: Husband says pregnant wife survived
After firefighters placed a woman in an ambulance, a man who had been urgently searching for his wife told reporters that she had survived the collapse.
9:03 p.m.: Mayor Zohran Mamdani announces casualties
Mayor Zohran Mamdani initially reported that at least 17 people had been injured and two had died. By Thursday morning, the number of fatalities linked to the collapse had risen to at least eight.
“I am heartbroken that eight New Yorkers have now lost their lives and at least 17 have been injured, including three firefighters,” Mamdani wrote on X. “There are no words for a loss of this magnitude. My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we have lost, those who are injured and everyone grieving today.”
FDNY firefighters search through debris and use ladders along a steep excavation pit after a deadly building collapse in Brooklyn on Wednesday. (FNTV)
Developers at 2625 Bedford Ave. had active permits for excavation and foundation work tied to plans for a new three-story building.
In March, the Department of Buildings issued a stop-work order after inspectors found that the existing structure had been demolished without sufficient safeguards for neighboring properties, including 1321 Flatbush Ave.
Damage is visible after a building collapsed in Brooklyn on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
More than a month later, investigators found that demolition had continued despite the order, leading to a $10,000 fine. The stop-work order was lifted in May after the developers were found to be in compliance.