City inspectors are reviewing excavation work and earlier violations at the neighboring development after the Flatbush disaster killed at least eight people.
NEW YORK — New York City investigators are examining construction beside a Brooklyn building that collapsed Wednesday, killing at least eight people, after officials said workers were excavating an adjoining lot when the three-story structure gave way.
The investigation centers on the collapse of 1321 Flatbush Ave., a mixed-use building with commercial space at street level and apartments above. The structure fell into an excavation site at 2625 Bedford Ave. shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday. At least 17 people were injured, including three firefighters, as rescue crews continued searching the rubble Thursday for anyone who might remain trapped.
Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said workers were excavating the neighboring property when the building buckled. City officials had not determined what caused the collapse as of Thursday, and they had not concluded that the excavation work was responsible. The Department of Buildings is reviewing the construction activity, permits and condition of surrounding structures as part of its investigation.
City records show the neighboring project had faced enforcement action earlier in the year. Officials said inspectors issued a stop-work order in March after finding that demolition work next door lacked adequate overhead protection intended to shield adjacent properties. Inspectors returned in April and found that demolition work had resumed despite the order, according to the Department of Buildings.
The city said the problems were later corrected and work was allowed to resume in May. Developers had active permits for excavation and foundation work when Wednesday’s collapse occurred. A new full stop-work order has been issued while investigators examine the disaster. The earlier violations do not by themselves establish what caused the building to fall.
The collapse sent much of 1321 Flatbush Ave. into the construction pit and also damaged the neighboring building at 1323 Flatbush Ave. That structure remained standing, but an exterior wall was torn away, exposing portions of apartments inside. Inspectors were checking nearby buildings for structural hazards while emergency crews worked below.
The rescue operation involved hundreds of firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel. Crews used search dogs, drones, power tools and excavators while firefighters removed debris by hand in areas where survivors might be located. A pregnant woman was among those pulled alive from the rubble Wednesday evening and taken to an ambulance.
The death toll increased Thursday as rescuers recovered additional victims and hospitals reported deaths among people who had been injured. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least eight people had died and 17 were injured. At least four people were reported in critical condition, and children were among those hurt.
Fire officials said the debris field posed continuing risks because removing one section could destabilize another. Rescue teams searched spaces beneath broken walls and floors while heavy equipment removed larger pieces. Forecast rain also raised concerns that the debris could become heavier and more difficult to search safely.
The Department of Buildings continued investigating Thursday while rescue operations remained underway. Officials had not announced a final cause of the collapse or said when the site would be safe for normal access, and the construction project remained halted pending further review.
Author note: Last updated November 12, 2026.