A three-story building in New York City collapsed into an adjacent construction excavation Wednesday afternoon, killing at least eight people and prompting an extensive rescue effort that continued into the night.
The disaster unfolded rapidly in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood. From the first 911 call and the urgent search for survivors to the rising death toll, the following timeline details the emergency response.
The collapse also drew renewed scrutiny to earlier construction violations at the neighboring worksite.
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 a timeline of the building collapse and the emergency response, listed 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 collapse also ripped away a wall at 1323 Flatbush Ave., exposing apartments and stairwells.
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4:02 p.m.: Firefighters arrive at the site
New York City firefighters reached the scene within a minute of the collapse, with some units already nearby. The building housed a ground-floor store and apartments on the upper floors.
4:03 p.m.: City sends emergency alert
Notify NYC warned residents about heavy emergency activity, traffic disruptions and road closures in the 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 under the debris
Several news organizations reported that people were trapped beneath the rubble as FDNY crews mounted a large-scale rescue operation.
6:15 p.m.: Firefighters locate conscious woman in rubble
Video from CBS New York showed firefighters speaking with a dust-covered woman after breaking through part of the collapsed structure.
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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 frantically searching for his wife told reporters that she had survived the collapse.
9:03 p.m.: Mayor Zohran Mamdani announces death toll
Mayor Zohran Mamdani initially said 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 said in a post 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 rubble 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 at the site.
In March, the Department of Buildings issued a stop-work order after inspectors found that the developers had demolished the existing structure without adequate protection 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)
A little 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 officials determined the developers were in compliance.
