Investigators are now examining construction work on the neighbouring property in the Brooklyn building collapse, where contractors had previously violated a city order to stop demolition, according to CBS News. The focus of the probe has shifted from the fallen building itself to the excavation next door.
Why it matters
The disaster occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, when a three story residential building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue collapsed into a large excavation pit next door. At least two people were killed and 17 others injured, including seven children, and four victims were in critical condition.
City records show that developers planned to build a nine story property with 64 flats and a ground floor supermarket at 2625 Bedford Avenue, next to the collapsed building. The scale of the planned development raises questions about the excavation work and whether the stop work order was properly enforced.
What happens next
The Department of Buildings said its inspectors are on scene at the major building collapse near Flatbush Avenue, assisting with recovery operations and conducting structural stability inspections of nearby buildings. Law enforcement agencies are leading the investigation into the cause alongside the department.
The search and rescue operation is expected to stretch for days, and officials have warned that the number of victims will likely rise. The question of who is responsible for the collapse will be decided by the investigation, and the violated stop work order will be at the centre of it.
The Department of Buildings said its inspectors are on scene at the major building collapse near Flatbush Avenue, assisting with recovery operations and conducting structural stability inspections of nearby buildings. The Red Cross opened a reception centre at the Flatbush YMCA at 1401 Flatbush Avenue, and registered 12 adults and three children across six households. Flatbush Avenue was closed from Clarendon Road to Bedford Avenue while rescue work went on. A pregnant woman was rescued from the site, according to reports from the scene, and the cause of the collapse remains under investigation. The search is expected to stretch for days, and officials warn the victim count will likely rise.
