8 DEAD IN HORRIFIC BROOKLYN BUILDING COLLAPSE — TWO CHILDREN AMONG VICTIMS AS FAMILIES FACE UNIMAGINABLE HEARTBREAK
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — November 13, 2026
Eight people, including two young children, have died after a devastating three-story building collapse in Brooklyn, New York, leaving multiple families mourning loved ones and raising serious questions about construction safety and building conditions.
The victims included a 9-year-old girl, a 10-year-old boy, and a 26-year-old construction worker whose wife is expecting their second child.
The collapse happened shortly after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, at 1321 Flatbush Avenue in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. The three-story apartment building suddenly gave way and plunged into an excavation site on the neighboring property, trapping residents and construction workers beneath tons of debris.
At least 18 people were injured, including four firefighters who took part in the dangerous rescue operation.
More than 250 emergency personnel responded to the disaster. Firefighters, medical teams, police officers, rescue dogs and specialized equipment were deployed as crews worked through the night to locate survivors.
While the emergency rescue operation has now ended, investigators are still trying to determine exactly what caused the building to collapse.
EIGHT VICTIMS IDENTIFIED, INCLUDING TWO CHILDREN
Authorities have identified all eight people who lost their lives in the disaster.
The victims were:
- Nicole Daniela Salvada Rodriguez, 9
- Kevin Santiago Reyes Gonzalez, 10
- Gabriel Siguencia, 22
- Barry Mamadou, 23
- Jose Luis Caguana Cosquillo, 26
- Edgar Sapon, 26
- Juan Daniel Salvada Guzman, 31
- Ndiaye Mamadou, 31
The victims included six adults and two children. Two of the adults were construction workers at the site.
According to officials, six victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others died after being transported to nearby hospitals.
The victims came from different backgrounds, with families connected to Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago.
The deaths of the two children have been particularly heartbreaking for the Flatbush community. Nine-year-old Nicole and 10-year-old Kevin were among those whose lives were cut short when the building collapsed.
For their families, the loss is immeasurable. What should have been an ordinary afternoon turned into a tᩚraɢedy that changed their lives forever.
26-YEAR-OLD FATHER-TO-BE KILLED IN THE COLLAPSE
Among the victims was Jose Luis Caguana Cosquillo, 26, a construction worker originally from Ecuador.
Caguana had moved to the United States approximately six years ago in search of better opportunities and a future for his family.
He leaves behind his wife and young son. His wife is also expecting their second child.
His dєatᩚh has left his family facing an especially painful future. A young father who had been working to provide for his loved ones will never get the chance to welcome his new baby into the world.
His brother, Julio Caguana, spoke about the devastating loss to Telemundo 47, remembering the time they had recently spent together watching sports.
He described his brother as someone who would always remain in his heart.
The Ecuadorian Consulate in New York also expressed its condolences to Caguana’s family and loved ones.
His story represents one of the many personal tragedies behind the eight lives lost in Brooklyn.
A MASSIVE RESCUE OPERATION THROUGH THE NIGHT
The New York City Fire Department received an emergency call at approximately 4:01 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11.
Fire and EMS units arrived within about one minute, but the situation quickly became a major technical rescue operation.
The building had collapsed into an adjacent construction excavation site, creating an unstable field of concrete, bricks, wood and other debris.
More than 250 firefighters and emergency medical personnel were eventually involved in the response.
Rescue teams used:
- Search dogs to locate people beneath the rubble.
- Drones to examine areas that were difficult to access.
- Power saws and specialized cutting equipment to remove damaged materials.
- Pickaxes and hand tools to carefully clear smaller sections of debris.
- Heavy machinery to move larger pieces of the collapsed structure.
Firefighters worked in extremely dangerous conditions because sections of the wreckage remained unstable.
Witnesses described hearing loud banging and construction noise before the building came down.
James Williams, who works at a deli across the street, told The Associated Press that he heard loud banging throughout the day before seeing bricks begin to fall.
He said the building collapsed just minutes later.
Nearby residents and business owners rushed outside as dust and debris filled the street.
Some witnesses described seeing people trapped inside the damaged structure while emergency workers struggled to reach them.
A NEIGHBORING BUILDING WAS ALSO SEVERELY DAMAGED
The collapse did not affect only the building that fell.
Part of a neighboring three-story structure was torn open, exposing the interiors of apartments to the street.
Photographs from the scene showed bedrooms, closets, staircases and personal belongings visible through the damaged exterior.
Residents living nearby were forced to leave their homes while officials assessed the structural safety of surrounding properties.
Three nearby addresses were also evacuated as a precaution.
A reception center was established at the Flatbush YMCA, located at 1401 Flatbush Avenue, to assist residents displaced by the disaster.
RESIDENTS HAD REPORTED CONCERNS BEFORE THE COLLAPSE
As investigators began examining the disaster, attention turned to the condition of the collapsed building and construction activity next door.
The neighboring property had been undergoing demolition and excavation work as part of a planned development.
City records indicated that workers were digging at the site when the building collapsed.
Plans submitted for the project included excavation deeper than 15 feet, as well as rock blasting.
The construction site had also previously been subject to a stop-work order related to inadequate protection during demolition.
According to records reported by The Associated Press, the order was issued in March. Work reportedly resumed after the violations were addressed.
Meanwhile, residents had raised concerns about construction vibrations and cracks in nearby buildings.
One resident, Dervie Mapp, told the Associated Press that neighbors had complained about the construction project for months.
She said engineers had been brought into her building, but residents never received an inspection report.
Authorities are now examining whether excavation work, inadequate structural support, building conditions or other construction-related issues contributed to the collapse.
However, no definitive cause has been established.
BUILDING RECORDS RAISE ADDITIONAL SAFETY QUESTIONS
Investigators are also examining the history of the collapsed property itself.
According to records cited by The Washington Post, the building had 25 outstanding violations classified as hazardous or immediately hazardous.
The reported issues included concerns involving the sprinkler water supply, the roof and electrical wiring.
These records have raised further questions about whether the building had been adequately maintained and whether earlier warning signs were properly addressed.
Officials have not established that these violations directly caused the collapse.
The investigation will need to determine whether the building’s condition, neighboring excavation work or a combination of factors contributed to the disaster.
MAYOR ORDERS INSPECTIONS AT 100 OTHER CONSTRUCTION SITES
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has vowed that the city will investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse and hold responsible parties accountable.
Following the tᩚraɢedy, the mayor announced that approximately 100 construction sites connected to five entities involved in the project would undergo additional scrutiny.
City inspectors are reviewing construction records, safety procedures and the conditions at other locations associated with the companies.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office is also investigating whether any criminal conduct may have contributed to the disaster.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said city officials were leading the investigation and that the state would provide support as needed.
Authorities have emphasized that the cause remains undetermined and that further examination will be necessary before any conclusions can be reached.
RESCUE OPERATION CONCLUDES AFTER EIGHT PEOPLE ARE FOUND DEAD
Firefighters continued searching the wreckage into Thursday, November 12.
During the early hours of the morning, crews used power saws and pickaxes to reach victims buried beneath the debris. Excavators were later brought in to remove larger sections of the wreckage and allow rescue teams to reach deeper areas.
The operation continued under difficult conditions, with emergency personnel carefully examining unstable sections of the site.
By Thursday afternoon, the FDNY announced that the search and rescue operation had concluded after the final victims were recovered.
Officials confirmed that eight people had died and 18 others had been injured.
The vast majority of those still receiving hospital treatment were reported to be in stable condition, although one injured person remained in ᑕriᩚtiᩚcal condition, according to the mayor’s update.
The end of the rescue operation marked the beginning of a longer process: identifying what went wrong, supporting displaced residents and determining whether the tᩚraɢedy could have been prevented.
EIGHT FAMILIES LEFT TO MOURN
For the families of Nicole, Kevin, Jose Luis and the five other victims, the consequences of the collapse will extend far beyond the destruction of a building.
Two children will never return to their families. A young father will never meet his second child. Parents, siblings, relatives and friends are now left with memories of loved ones they expected to see again.
The disaster has also shaken the Flatbush neighborhood, where residents are demanding answers about construction safety and the condition of the buildings around them.
As investigators continue their work, the community is left grieving eight lives lost in a matter of seconds.
Eight people. Eight lives. Countless loved ones forever changed.
May Nicole, Kevin, Jose Luis and all the other victims rest in peace. Our thoughts are with every family affected by this heartbreaking tᩚraɢedy.
The investigation remains ongoing.
