Brooklyn building that collapsed and killed 8 was ‘in poor condition’ and riddled with cracks, inspectors say: Live updates

The building that fell over on Wednesday evening was determined to be in ‘poor condition’ and riddled with cracks, according to an inspection report.

A special inspector with the Building Department noted that the structure was in ‘poor condition and riddled with cracks’ before its fatal collapse, The New York Times reported.

The official was supposed to oversee the adjacent construction site, but their license expired in July, records showed.

The office building belonging to LMW Engineering Group in Linden, New Jersey, was practically empty this morning, according to the NYT.

The company was the engineer of record for the foundation work on the construction site adjacent to the collapsed building, the report stated.

No one was in the office, and blueprints were found left behind inside, according to the outlet. There were nine cars in the parking lot.

A woman said that Jieming Wang, the firm’s owner and managing partner, was not in.

Wang has been with the company for more than 28 years, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The Daily Mail contacted LMW Engineering Group for comment.

An online donation page has been created to help Jose Luis Caguana’s family after he died in the collapse.

The 26-year-old leaves behind his wife, four-year-old son and his unborn baby, who was expected to arrive soon, the family shared.

Lisa, a resident who has lived in the area for nine years, told the Daily Mail that an adult daycare center was there before the construction site came in.

‘What they did is they came, and they bought the building, it was an adult daycare center,’ the 37-year-old said.

‘They knocked that building down and then they started to dig so deep! So I think the digging that they did… I think that’s what caused the collapse because they didn’t put any foundation for the building – while they were doing the construction, they didn’t pin the building.

She also described ‘a deep hole’ at the construction site.

Rodneyes Bichotte Hermelyn has an office across the street from the site, and when the building collapsed, she raced over to help, The New York Times reported.

She watched as a toddler was pulled from the rubble, as well as a pregnant woman whose husband was desperately searching for her.

‘That was very emotional,’ she told the outlet. ‘We were praying for him and hugging him.’

Hermelyn said the rescued child was transported to a hospital.

William Morris, 48, was just about to hop in the shower when he heard what happened around the corner from his house on Wednesday.

A friend had called him about what happened, and he was stunned when he turned on the news and saw it for himself, Morris told the Daily Mail at the collapse site on Thursday morning.

‘I was like, oh whoa, this is like a mini 9/11 all over again, you know? Sad, sad, just to hear what happened.

Morris called his family to make sure everyone was safe after he digested what happened.

‘In times like this, we need everyone to come together,’ he continued.

An incredible image captured the moment firefighters rescued a pregnant woman who was trapped in the debris of the collapse on Wednesday evening.

James too X on Thursday morning, sharing that her ‘heart is heavy’ after learning of the deadly building collapse.

‘My heart is heavy this morning, as we have now lost eight New Yorkers to this tragic building collapse.

‘As our first responders continue to work around the clock, I’m praying for this community, for those injured, and for the families of those we lost,’ she stated.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged the fatal collapse on Wednesday evening.

‘I joined @fdny and emergency crews at the scene of today’s tragic building collapse on Flatbush Avenue. Two of our neighbors have lost their lives, and at least 17 others have been injured, including one firefighter,’ he posted on X.

‘My heart is with the families and loved ones mourning those we have lost. I am also wishing a full and speedy recovery to everyone who was injured.

‘This has been a whole-of-government response. I want to thank the first responders who arrived in under a minute and have spent hours working in dangerous and highly technical conditions to rescue New Yorkers. Their courage and dedication are extraordinary.’

He shared another update this morning, stating: ‘Rescue workers have spent the night searching the site of yesterday’s building collapse, working under extremely dangerous conditions to find and save anyone who may still be trapped.

‘I am heartbroken that eight New Yorkers have now lost their lives and at least 17 have been injured, including three firefighters.

‘There are no words for a loss of this magnitude. My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we have lost, those who are injured and everyone grieving today.’

An excavator is being used at the collapse site to lift rubble.

It is a large piece of construction machinery that is used to dig, lift and move heavy material.

Officials have warned that efforts could be hampered by a storm set to hit Brooklyn throughout Thursday that could potentially drench the rubble in rain and complicate the mission to pull more people out.

Forecasters warned the storm could bring as much as three inches of rainfall along with 30mph winds, raising the risk of flash flooding in an already chaotic situation.

Rainfall is expected to start around 12pm and continue late into the night.