Six killed in 'devastating' New York building collapse

At least six people have been killed after a "devastating" building collapse in Brooklyn.

At least 17 others are injured, with four in a critical condition, after the three-storey building collapsed on Wednesday afternoon.

The bodies of four more people were pulled from the rubble early on Thursday, the New York City Fire Department confirmed, bringing the death toll up to five.

New York mayor Zohran Mamdani said fire crews responded to the "devastating" collapse within one minute of the first 911 call.

Footage from news helicopters showed hundreds of rescuers scouring debris for survivors - and appearing to use a saw to cut through the wreckage.

"This has been an incredibly challenging and fast-moving situation - with precarious wreckage to navigate and dangerous voids beneath the surface", Mr Mamdani said.

Crews were seen pulling someone from the rubble of the building and placing them on a stretcher, passing them carefully from person to person.

More than 250 firefighters were deployed to the scene - and it is unclear how many people remain trapped.

New York City fire commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said: "This will be a prolonged operation. Its cause is under investigation."

Seven children and a firefighter were among those injured.

Mr Mamdani added: "I want to ask New Yorkers to please take a moment to pray for those who passed away today and all of those who are mourning their loss, as well as for a fast and full recovery for all those who were injured."

New York's buildings commissioner Ahmed Tigani said that construction workers were excavating an empty lot next door for a new building when the collapse occurred.

Much of the rubble from the collapse was left in a huge pile inside the construction pit.

Another building that shared a wall with the structure saw its wall torn off, exposing the rooms inside, including a bedroom and closets.

As darkness fell on Wednesday night, crews deployed sniffer dogs and used flashlights to illuminate the area where they worked.

"The units are proposing dangerous and heroic work," Ms Bonsignore said.

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John Esposito, the fire service's chief of department, said crews encountered the scene while returning from another emergency - and immediately took action.

"We continue to search any void spaces looking for any victims, and we've removed a few from that collapse area," he told a news conference.

Mr Esposito added that there is concern of a second collapse - and firefighters will be on the scene for several days until they are confident no one else is trapped.

(c) Sky News 2026: Six killed in 'devastating' New York building collapse