Two dead, several injured after New York building collapses

A pile of rubble is all that remains of a three-storey building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue. Firefighters are working to rescue people trapped beneath the debris. Several people have been killed and others injured, including children. Some of the injured are in a critical condition. This has been an incredibly challenging and fast-moving situation, with precarious wreckage to navigate and dangerous voids beneath the surface. This type of rescue is exactly what the FDNY trains for. 250 firefighters and EMS personnel responded and have worked tirelessly to secure the scene and rescue those who were trapped. The building dated back to the 1930s. What caused it to collapse is now under investigation. City officials say excavation work was underway next door where another building had been demolished. For rescue crews the immediate priority is finding anyone still beneath the rubble. Multiple people from the building and the construction site were trapped. Fire and EMS units responded within one minute. We do not know how many people are still in the collapse zone. And this will be a prolonged operation. With the construction site right next door, some residents are questioning whether enough was done to keep people safe. It's heartbreaking to see that so many people are hurt or possibly even lost their lives. But I think it's an issue with safety measures. The collapse also tore open a neighboring building, leaving its apartments open to the elements.