Brooklyn apartment collapse kills eight

Eight people died and 18 others sustained injuries when a three-story apartment building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue collapsed into a construction trench on Wednesday afternoon in Brooklyn. Two of the deceased were construction workers who were operating near the structure at the time of the failure.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani held a press conference on Thursday to provide details on the casualties. He described the incident as a devastating event for the city. Mamdani stated that six adults and two children lost their lives. Most bodies were recovered at the site, while two individuals died in nearby hospitals.

The victims represented several nationalities, including Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, and Trinidad. The NYPD released the names of the eight people who died on Thursday. The list includes Jose Luis Caguana Cosquillo, age 26, and Nicole Daniela Salvala Rodriguez, age 9. Other victims identified were Juan Daniel Salvada Guzman, 31, Kevin Santiago Reyes Gonzalez, 10, Ndiaye Mamadou, 31, Barry Mamadou, 23, Gabriel Siguencia, 22, and Edgar Sapon, 26.

The Ecuadorian consulate in New York confirmed the identity of Caguana Cosquillo. The office issued a statement expressing solidarity with the family. Caguana leaves behind a son and a pregnant wife. His brother, Julio Caguana, recalled spending Saturday with him watching sports. Julio noted that his brother was skilled at playing soccer.

The Colombian consulate in New York identified three of the victims as citizens of that country. The group included two minors and one adult. Among the 18 injured parties were four firefighters and one Colombian national.

Mamdani reported that the majority of patients currently receiving medical care are in stable condition. One person remains in critical condition. The hospitalization status of the injured workers and residents continues to be monitored by city officials.

The structural failure occurred on Wednesday afternoon. Officials confirmed the identities of the dead on Thursday. The construction site remains the focal point for recovery operations as medical staff treat the remaining injured.