Search Continues For Worker Buried Under Collapsed Wall

SUNSET PARK – A 47-year-old construction worker was buried yesterday afternoon when a 20-foot brick retaining wall collapsed on top of him at a construction site located at 714 39th Street between 7th & 8th Avenues in Sunset Park.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:30pm Wednesday afternoon. According to a NYPD representative, six workers were digging 20 feet into the ground at the construction site when the “wall became compromised” and crashed down on them. The other five workers were safely removed from the rubble.

Emergency crews worked for hours trying to locate the sixth man under the debris. Believing he may be dead, officials are now calling their rescue efforts a recovery instead, ABC 7 reports. The victim’s identity has not yet been released.

Wednesday’s rain complicated the search, which included search dogs, cameras, listening devices, and a vacuum truck to help remove some of the rubble, according to ABC 7, forcing Emergency Management officials to suspend the search overnight and reconsider the recovery plan.

According to the FDNY, search efforts will resume Thursday morning.