At Least One Dead in Brooklyn Building Collapse

A three-story building collapsed beside an excavation site in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday, killing at least one person and prompting an extensive search for people trapped in the rubble, authorities said. The collapse occurred near Bedford and Flatbush avenues, and the building fell into the adjoining construction site.

The New York City Fire Department said at least 10 people were injured; other reports put the number at 12. Officials described several injured people as being in critical condition. The varying totals were reported at different points during the rescue response, and a final tally was not available in the accounts. Fire officials also said people remained trapped as crews searched the debris.

Firefighters worked through the evening, digging by hand and using drones and search dogs to locate survivors. Rescuers also used flashlights as darkness fell. At least two people were pulled alive from the rubble, according to video and accounts of the operation. Emergency crews transported injured people to hospitals, while city agencies asked the public to avoid the area.

The building was three stories tall, with a store on the ground...