A building under construction in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, collapsed Tuesday afternoon, killing one construction worker who was trapped under the rubble.
The FDNY responded to the collapse of the three-story building on Brighton Fifth Street and began digging through debris.
Rescuers pulled three trapped people from the rubble. One worker was taken to the hospital in critical condition, and died Tuesday night.
Two others were injured.
The identities of the workers were not released.
The city buildings department said engineers were investigating.
Fire officials said heavy concrete resting on a corrugated steel floor that was not reinforced may have contributed to the collapse. Sources told NBC New York that workers might have been pouring concrete on two floors at once, which would be an added risk.
Local
Neighbor Riaz Anjum, who lives across the street, told NBC New York he saw the entire collapse from his living room.
"They are doing some work on the top floor, and suddenly the whole floor fell, one by one," he said.
Katy Avetisian, who lives nearby, told NBC New York that a burning odor filled the air just after the collapse.
"It smelled like fire, like something was burning," she said. "This building has been under construction for a while."
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