New York building collapse: at least two dead and 17 injured

At least two people have died and more than 17 others were injured after a three-storey building suddenly collapsed into an open construction site in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday afternoon.

A massive search-and-rescue operation is underway involving over 250 emergency responders. Firefighters were seen pulling survivors, including a pregnant woman, from the debris. Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore described the operation as extremely dangerous, warning that people from both the building and the adjacent site remain trapped.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud boom before the structure came down around 4:00pm local time. City officials have launched an investigation into the cause of the sudden collapse while emergency teams continue searching for missing individuals.

Source: BBC News