One killed, several injured in NYC building collapse

Rescuers were forced to use drones and a ‘robotic dog’ to search for survivors

One person was killed and at least five others were injured when a parking garage collapsed in New York City, prompting what local officials called an “extremely dangerous” rescue operation amid fears the rest of the building could give way. 

Located in Lower Manhattan not far from City Hall, a large section of the building caved in around 4pm on Tuesday afternoon, with the first floor crashing through to the basement in a “pancaked” collapse, according to the city’s acting buildings commissioner, Kazimir Vilenchik. 

The New York City Fire Department confirmed that one person died in the incident, while five others, all of them workers at the garage, were injured. FDNY Chief of Operations John Esposito said one of the survivors was briefly trapped on an upper floor but was successfully evacuated, adding that four of the five workers required medical treatment and were expected to recover.

Footage purporting to show the moment of the collapse has circulated online, including one clip captured from within the parking garage.

Video submitted reportedly from the parking garage collapse on Ann Street in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/fHu6xtOWm9

— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) April 18, 2023

Other videos show the extent of the damage from outside the building, with cars seen teetering on the edge of a gaping hole in the garage roof as dust rises from the structure.

#WATCH - A parking building collapse in New York City has been described as feeling “like an earthquake.” Video of the aftermath shows cars hanging in between floors of the three-story building.