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Eleven construction workers have been hospitalized following a partial building collapse in Brooklyn Thursday afternoon
Fire Department officials say it happened at 103 Messerole Street in East Williamsburg shortly after 1 p.m. Crews were working on the second and third floors of the three-story building when its side walls started to give way.
One construction worker says he heard the noise and ran for safety.
"I was in the back and they were upstairs, so I heard the noise over my head, and I didn't look to see what it was,” said the worker. “I started running because I started to feel things coming down on me, so I ran for my life."
"Our units, Rescue 2 and Ladder 146, went up to the second floor and found two workers buried by debris - loose brick and some mortar and some cinder block - in very critical condition," said the FDNY’s Edward Kilduff.
Nine people were taken to Bellevue Hospital, one with critical head injuries and the others in serious condition.
Two others are being treated at Elmhurst Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The adjoining buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
"We've temporarily vacated the two adjacent buildings just as a precaution while we do removal and look for any other safety hazards,” said Susan Hinkson of the Department of Buildings. “Once that's done, if it's determined there is nothing further that is in danger of collapse or that would endanger the adjacent buildings, we can lift the vacate."
Officials are still unsure of what caused the collapse, and an investigation is underway.
The DOB says the contractor did have permits for the work, but it's investigating to make sure the work being done was within the permit's guidelines.
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