BREAKING: Building Collapses In Brighton Beach (UPDATED)

WE ARE CURRENTLY UPDATING THIS POST AS INFORMATION IS FED TO US FROM OUR ON-SITE REPORTERS. THIS IS A REPORT IN PROGRESS AND All INFORMATION IS DEEMED ACCURATE WHEN POSTED, BUT MAY CHANGE AS THE EVENING PROGRESSES. PLEASE BEAR WITH US.

A building has collapsed in Brighton Beach, at 2922 2929 Brighton Fifth Street, near Neptune Avenue.

The collapse occurred around 2:30 this afternoon, and early reports suggest workers may be trapped inside.

“It’s a major collapse,” a Fire Department spokesman told the New York Times. “The most information that we have right now is that it’s pretty severe. Three people are trapped.” The building is at  2922 2929 Brighton Fifth Street, near Neptune Avenue. We will bring you details as they develop.

We’re heading to the scene now. Stay tuned for updates.

UPDATE: Streets are closed off around the area. Notify NYC has issued an alert to steer clear of the area. Emergency personel are on the scene.

UPDATE (3:28 p.m.): Three people are trapped inside the building and and police sources say they are in “not good” condition.

UPDATE (3:33 p.m.): The front of the building, and corrugated metal floorings inside, appear to have collapsed inwards. Firefighters are using ladders to get into the area and are surveying it.

UPDATE (3:35 p.m): A neighbor said the three have been pulled out. Also (according to witnesses), one worker on the scene fled before the police and FDNY came out. He reportedly “got in his car and left.”

UPDATE: (3:38 p.m.): Neighbor said it “sounded like the world was going to end.” The front began to slide slowly, then fully collapsed with a “big bang.” Aluminum debris fell around the street, and they began running away. It was “one big grumble at the end.” The building was four stories tall. Brickwork started last week, or sometime this week, according to another neighbor, who said the site was never a problem.

UPDATE (3:43 p.m.): A witness says  two workers fell from the third to the second floor. Another fells from the third to the first, and he appears to be in the worst condition. The FDNY is still searching for the fourth person.

UPDATE (4:03 p.m.): They’ve begun cutting the metal. An FDNY responder with a snake came has left, as have a K-9 unit.

UPDATE (4:17 p.m.): FDNY responders are inside the building, on the third floor. They’re peering out of the stairwell down into the rubble. They’re fastening a rope to a support beam. It appears as though they have tied it to secure one end of the corrugated metal, so they can lift the other end.

UPDATE (4:24 p.m.): Some of the firefighters are leaving.

UPDATE (4:31 p.m.): The FDNY’s Collapse Rescue 5 Unit has repositioned its truck directly in front of the building. All FDNY inside appear to have pulled out.

UPDATE (4:34 p.m.): City Councilman Domenic Recchia is now on the scene, as well as the property owners’ lawyer.

UPDATE (4:37 p.m.): Red Cross Disaster Relief is here.

UPDATE (4:43 p.m.): Councilman Recchia told Sheepshead Bites that his office has received complaints about the structure from neighbors. He would not elaborate on the nature of the complaints.

UPDATE (4:54 p.m.): Councilman Michael Nelson has arrived on the scene.

UPDATE (5:07 p.m.): The office of Emergency Management (OEM) is setting up portable lights around the scene of the collapse.

UPDATE (5:07 p.m.): Earlier in the day, firefighters began to cut holes into some of the corrugated metal floor sub-flooring. They have now begun to enter into the holes.

UPDATE (5:22 p.m.): All FDNY personal have come down and off the building.

UPDATE (5:32 p.m.): As of now, no neighboring buildings have been evacuated, but many local streets remain closed. Emergency personal are telling people that it is dangerous to be on the streets.

UPDATE (5:44 p.m.): We just heard the name of the condo; BS Condo, LLC. Fitting isn’t it? As funny as that sounded – it’s R.S. Condo, LLC. Our bad.

UPDATE (5:48 p.m.): FDNY representatives have told Sheepshead Bites that all victims have been removed from the building and that the fire chief has completed a walk-through. The area is secure, but the fire department will maintain a lasting presence. It is now an inter-agency operation to decide if they’ll do any additional work to further safeguard the site and to ensure no further collapse or danger to the public.

UPDATE (6:01 p.m.): FDNY Press Officer Jim Long has informed Sheepshead Bites that five people where on the scene when the collapse occurred. One was treated on-site. Of the remaining four, three are in serious condition and one is critical. No names have been released. The Department of Buildings (DOB) and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) have taken over operation at the site. They will interview workers and do on-site analysis to determine the cause of the collapse. Once that is complete, they will bring in an outside contractor to dismantle the wreckage. Workers were pouring concrete at the time of the collapse.

UPDATE (6:30 p.m.): Councilman Dominic Recchia posted the following to his Facebook page:

After a preliminary investigation, the foundation of the collapsed building was not built in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Building Code and Administrative Code with the City of New York. Reports from the Building Department and city agencies that were at the scene said the concrete was not poured properly, the steel beams were not securely attached, and no engineer was on site during building hours. Many questions need to be answered and I will work with Councilman Michael Nelson to make sure that a full investigation goes underway so we can prevent another tragedy like this from happening in South Brooklyn.

UPDATE (11:00 p.m.): One of the laborers has passed away.