Brooklyn Collapse Leaves 8 Dead, 17 Injured Amid Questions Over Nearby Excavations
Investigators examine whether months of construction work next to a 96-year-old building on Flatbush Avenue contributed to the partial collapse that killed eight people on Wednesday.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
Eight people died and at least 17 others were injured when a three-story building partially collapsed in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. ET at 1321 Flatbush Avenue. The structure, which was approximately 96 years old, housed a commercial business on the ground floor and residential apartments on the upper levels. Emergency crews continued working through the debris to check for additional victims.
Investigators are focusing on the construction activity taking place in the adjacent lot at 2625 Bedford Avenue. Municipal officials stated that workers were conducting excavations on that site when the collapse happened. The building on Flatbush Avenue fell toward the open space of the neighboring construction project, prompting a review of whether soil movements affected the building’s foundations.
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) is determining if the excavations had proper protective measures in place. Experts are specifically looking at retention walls and shoring systems used to support the sides of the excavation. Glenn Corbett, a construction safety professor at John Jay College, noted that digging near older structures raises questions about stability. He said investigators must check if the support systems, which include wood and steel components, were functioning correctly to prevent soil displacement.
Construction records show the nearby project had a mixed-use design including commercial spaces, medical services, and apartments. The plan called for expanding the structure from three to nine floors, a change that had not yet received approval. DOB records also show a citation was issued in April for work done on the lot while a stop-work order was in effect. That violation was later resolved.
The collapsed building had no recorded municipal violations. However, engineers will examine the age of the structure and any prior repairs or material degradation. The investigation remains open as authorities review construction documents, permits, and physical evidence recovered from the site to determine the cause of the failure.
