Two people have died and 17 others sustained injuries after a three-storey residential building collapsed in Brooklyn, New York, following excavation work at an adjoining construction site.

The incident occurred on Wednesday in the Flatbush area, prompting a major emergency response involving more than 250 firefighters and paramedics.

Among the injured were seven children, while four victims sustained critical injuries, according to the New York City Fire Department, cited by Channels Television. Rescue teams also worked to locate and evacuate people trapped beneath the debris.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said emergency personnel faced difficult conditions at the site, with unstable sections of the collapsed structure and dangerous gaps beneath the rubble complicating rescue efforts.

The city’s Department of Buildings confirmed that excavation activities were ongoing when the structure came down. Its inspectors were deployed to assess the stability of surrounding buildings and support recovery operations.

Department Commissioner Ahmed Tigani disclosed that developers had obtained approval for a three-storey structure at the location but were seeking permission to construct a nine-storey building.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collapse.