New York: Firefighters in Brooklyn, New York, launched an urgent rescue operation on Wednesday after a three-storey building collapsed near a construction site, trapping people beneath the debris. Emergency crews worked through the rubble, using specialised equipment, rescue dogs and drones to locate survivors.

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Firefighters were called to the scene in the Flatbush neighbourhood at around 4 pm. Aerial footage from news helicopters showed dozens of rescuers searching through the wreckage. Some firefighters focused on a particular section, using cutting equipment to break through the debris.

Rescue teams were seen pulling at least one person from the rubble and carrying them away on a stretcher. Others continued searching by hand, removing broken bricks, wooden pieces and other debris in an effort to locate anyone still trapped.

The collapsed three-storey building stood alongside a construction site where a one-storey structure had previously been demolished. Excavation work was underway at the site when the building fell, sending bricks and wooden debris into the construction pit.

The neighbouring building, which shared a wall with the collapsed structure, remained standing. However, part of its wall had been torn away, exposing the interiors of several rooms, including a bedroom and wardrobes containing clothes.

Rescue operations continued as darkness fell, with firefighters using flashlights to search through the wreckage. Drones were deployed to monitor the site, while trained search dogs helped rescuers look for possible survivors.

Authorities had yet to establish the exact cause of the collapse. Messages seeking comments were sent to the architect, property owner and general contractor associated with the construction project, according to city records.

(This story has not been edited by Mathrubhumi and is published from a syndicated feed.)