Two children were among eight people killed in a New York building collapse, officials said Thursday, as rescuers battled rain in their continuing, frantic search for possible survivors.
New York City Fire crews were still in rescue mode more than 20 hours after the horrific collapse at 1321 Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn, the city’s most populous neighborhood. Eighteen people were injured.
It’s unclear if anyone was reported missing, but the FDNY said it was continuing to search the debris for survivors.
“We will stay here until we are 100 percent sure there are no more people trapped,” FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore told reporters. “To be clear, we have not moved from rescue to recovery. We are still in the search and rescue phase.”
Six of the eight people killed were pronounced dead at the scene, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said. Two others died in hospital.
Before meeting journalists there, Mamdani said he visited the victims recovering in hospital.
“This has been a very dark evening and morning for our city,” he said. “We are mourning too many people we have loved, and as we grieve and rebuild, we will do it together, as one city. »
Among the half-dozen adults who died were two construction workers, according to the mayor.
Of the 18 people injured, four were firefighters and 14 were civilians. One of the injured is in critical condition.
“This is a devastating tragedy for New York, and our prayers are with those recovering in the hospital and those who have passed away,” Bonsignore said. “The FDNY grieves with these families, and we promise, with everything we have, that we will not stop working until everyone is rescued or recovered. »
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