ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Thursday that authorities had launched an investigation into the collapse of a three-story building in Brooklyn that killed eight people, including two children, and injured 18 others.
“This has been a devastating evening and morning for our city. Eight of our fellow New Yorkers, six adults and two children, have died as a result of the three-story building collapse here at 1321 Flatbush Avenue,” Mamdani told reporters at a press conference near the scene.
The building, located next to a permitted excavation site at 2625 Bedford Avenue, collapsed on Wednesday. Two construction workers were among those killed, while 14 civilians and four firefighters were injured.
“A tragedy of this magnitude demands a comprehensive and thorough investigation that includes both the construction site and the building which collapsed,” Mamdani said.
He added that the city's Department of Buildings would inspect approximately 100 other sites associated with the five entities involved in the construction project.
“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,” Mamdani wrote on X.
New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said inspectors and engineers would remain at the scene overnight to assist firefighters, police officers, and emergency management personnel with recovery operations and structural safety assessments.
“We have immediately launched a full investigation into how exactly this happened with our law enforcement partners and we will be looking into all aspects of the building and the neighboring construction site,” Tigani said.
