A construction worker has died after a two-story home in Brooklyn collapsed on Friday.
The collapse took place just after noon at 1266 50th Street, near 13th Avenue, in Borough Park.
The 33-year-old construction worker has not been publicly identified as his family is still being notified.
The worker was reportedly working on the home when the first floor caved in, pinning him in the basement.
Gothamist reports, "Fire and buildings department officials said three construction workers were at the site when the first floor collapsed into the cellar, pinning and killing one of the men. The others survived and officials said no other victims were discovered nearby."
No other injuries have been reported, but the construction worker was pronounced dead at the scene. 🚨#BREAKING: A major emergency response is underway following a building collapse, with people trapped inside and reported fatalities⁰⁰ 📌#Brooklyn | #Newyork
Currently, numerous emergency crews and other authorities are on site in Brooklyn, New York, responding to a building… pic.twitter.com/ixLt5cIZjK
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 2, 2024
It remains unclear what caused the building to collapse.
According to the Department of Buildings, the construction was being completed illegally.
"There are absolutely no plans submitted to the Department of Buildings, so this fatality absolutely should not have happened,” DOB Commissioner James Oddo told the Gothamist. “They should not have been doing this work let alone having a Bobcat [construction vehicle] inside this structure.” 🚨#UPDATE: Firefighters advised that one construction worker has been killed and has been removed from the rubble after a basement collapsed no one else has been reported injured at this time pic.twitter.com/oOOmYizKKX
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 2, 2024
The report added, "Oddo said the department received complaints about the site in late December and could not gain access to the home. When inspectors returned in early January, building officials issued a partial stop-work order."
“The only work that should have been done at this site is to make the site safe,” Oddo said. “And as you can see that stop work order was violated.”
