Video from inside Brooklyn apartment captures moment New York City building collapsed, killing 8

The three-story structure in Flatbush caved in on Wednesday, prompting a massive emergency response. Recorded inside the third-floor unit of resident Anderson Velez, video shows the apartment beginning to give way just as a living room wall crumbles.

Family's narrow escape

According to Gothamist, Velez's 9-year-old son can be seen holding a baby bottle and pulling a gallon of milk from the refrigerator while a 2-year-old plays nearby. Moments later, Velez's wife bursts through a doorway screaming, and the boy runs toward his mother as the walls break apart around them.

Construction violations

New York City Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani confirmed that excavation was underway at the adjacent Bedford Avenue site at the time of the collapse. He noted that while the property owner had a plan approved for a three-story building, they were seeking approval for a nine-story structure.

The owner of the neighboring property is facing scrutiny over past construction violations, including a contractor's decision to ignore a city stop-work order in March. Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed his heartbreak over the incident, stating there are no words for a loss of this magnitude.