Occupied Brooklyn building collapses into adjacent excavation site

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

A three-story apartment building on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn collapsed into an adjacent construction pit on the afternoon of Nov. 11. Eight people died, including two children and two construction workers. Eighteen others were injured.

The site next door had permits to dig 14 feet below grade. Engineering records show the city and the project's engineer had reviewed the risks of excavating beside occupied buildings, and had set written thresholds for when work must stop.

Why it matters

Every city that lets builders dig beside occupied homes relies on those written safety plans being followed in the field.

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Key Indicators

People killed

Including two children and two construction workers, officials said Nov. 12.

People injured

Figure released by Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Nov. 12.

14 ft

Permitted excavation depth

City records allowed digging to extend 14 feet below grade at 2625 Bedford Ave.

Open violations at the collapsed building

City records listed violations ranging from bedbugs to leaks, per CBS New York.

~100

Construction sites ordered inspected

Sites tied to companies involved in the project, ordered by the mayor.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Jieming Wang

Engineer, LMW Engineering Group

Named in project filings; has not responded publicly to questions

Zohran Kwame Mamdani

Mayor of New York City

Ordered citywide safety inspections after the collapse

Ahmed Tigani

New York City Buildings Commissioner

Said excavation was underway when the building collapsed

Dervie Mapp

Resident of a neighboring building

Said residents complained about construction for months

Organizations Involved

New York City Department of Buildings

Municipal agency

Reviewing the collapse and inspecting related sites

The agency that reviews and permits excavation and shoring plans in New York City.

Townhouse Builders / Promont

General contractor

Listed as contractor on building, earthwork and excavation-support permits

The Brooklyn-based firm listed as general contractor on the 2625 Bedford Ave. filings.

LMW Engineering Group

Engineering firm

Engineer of record on excavation-support filings

The firm whose engineer prepared the shoring and monitoring plans for the site.

Brooklyn District Attorney's Office

Prosecutorial Office

Involved in the investigation, per the mayor

The county prosecutor participating in the inquiry into the collapse.

Timeline

March 2026 November 2026

8 events Latest: Yesterday

Tap a bar to jump to that date

November 2026
Mayor confirms eight dead and orders inspections at about 100 sites
Latest Response

Mamdani said the dead included two children and two construction workers, that 18 were injured, and that the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office is involved. The Fire Department concluded its search.
Yesterday
Occupied Flatbush Avenue building collapses into excavation
Collapse

The three-story building fell into the construction site at 2625 Bedford Ave. while excavation was underway. A deli worker across the street told the Associated Press he heard loud banging all day, then saw bricks falling.
2 days ago • afternoon
May 2026
City allows work to continue after corrections
Enforcement

Work resumed after the problems were corrected, according to the department. Officials have not linked the earlier violations to the collapse.
May 8th, 2026
April 2026
Inspectors find demolition resumed in violation of stop-work order
Enforcement

The department said demolition had restarted despite the March order, resulting in another violation.
April 2026
March 2026
Preconstruction survey reuploaded after download failure
Filing

Wang told the department the file had been reduced in size and reuploaded after the agency could not download it.
March 16th, 2026
Engineer adds adjoining-foundation details to shoring drawings
Filing

Responding to city reviewers, Jieming Wang said information on materials and elevations of adjoining foundations had been added to the sections.
March 12th, 2026
Survey documents cracking on the building that later fell
Inspection

A required preconstruction survey recorded visible cracking at 1321 Flatbush Ave. and rated its north masonry facade in poor condition. The east and west facades were rated fair, also with visible cracking.
March 5th, 2026
City halts demolition over inadequate overhead protection
Enforcement

Inspectors issued a stop-work order at 2625 Bedford Ave. after finding insufficient protection for surrounding properties during demolition.
March 2026

Scenarios

Investigators fault the excavation and shoring

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Structural engineers quoted by Scientific American, including Michael Chajes and Mehrdad Sasani

Engineers who reviewed the collapse told Scientific American that a failure to properly hold back soil at the neighboring site is the most likely primary cause. Chajes pointed to vibration and undermining of the existing structure; Sasani said the building's age and condition may have played a secondary role. A finding along these lines would focus on whether the shoring and monitoring in the approved plans were actually in place on Nov. 11.

Collapse blamed on the building's prior condition

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Engineers noting the documented facade cracks and the survey's poor rating

The March survey rated the north facade poor and recorded cracking on three sides. Sasani noted the building's integrity could have played a secondary role. A finding centered on pre-existing deterioration would shift scrutiny toward the building's owner and the adequacy of maintenance, though it would not rule out construction as a trigger.

Prosecutors file criminal charges over the site

Uncertain Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: The mayor's confirmation that the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office is involved

The district attorney's participation opens the possibility of charges tied to the March stop-work violation, the later resumption of demolition, or the condition of the excavation support. Charges would require evidence that a specific legal duty was breached, not just that the collapse happened.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

June 2021

Champlain Towers South collapse (2021)

A 12-story condominium in Surfside, Florida, partially collapsed early on June 24, 2021, killing 98 people. Investigators later focused on structural weaknesses at the pool deck and columns, compounded by years of deferred maintenance and water intrusion.

Then

A months-long search and recovery operation, and a criminal grand jury investigation in Miami-Dade County.

Now

Florida tightened condominium inspection and reserve-funding rules, and the case became a reference point for how long documentation of known structural problems can precede failure.

Why this matters now

Both cases involve written records of deterioration that existed months before a collapse, and questions about whether warnings translated into action.

June 1995

Sampoong Department Store collapse (1995)

A five-story department store in Seoul collapsed on June 29, 1995, killing more than 500 people. The failure followed the addition of a heavy rooftop structure and alterations to load-bearing elements, with warnings of cracking reported in the hours before.

Then

The store's chairman and several officials were convicted of criminal negligence.

Now

South Korea overhauled its building inspection regime, and the case remains a standard example of how construction alterations can outrun regulatory review.

Why this matters now

It shows the gap between what inspectors and engineers document and what is actually enforced on site, which is the central open question in Brooklyn.