Six dead and others injured in Brooklyn residential building fire
Six people died and several others were hurt when a fire broke out in a Brooklyn residential building early on Thursday, with the cause still under investigation.
At a glance
- Six people died in a fire at a residential building in Brooklyn, New York City, reported at about 01:40 local time on Thursday.
- Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene and two died in hospital; six civilians and three firefighters were injured.
- A hazmat crew was sent because a lithium-ion battery was present, but its link to the fire is not yet clear, officials said.
Six people have died and several others were hurt after a large fire broke out in a residential building in Brooklyn, New York City, in the early hours of Thursday morning, officials said.
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) said the fire was first reported at around 01:40 local time (06:40 GMT) near Sunset Park. More than 230 fire and emergency medical personnel were sent to the scene to tackle the blaze.
Responders arriving at the building found that its first and second floors had been engulfed by flames.
The victims
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the FDNY. A male and a female were taken to hospital, where they were also pronounced dead, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) said.
Six other civilians were injured, two of them critically, along with three firefighters who were also hurt, the FDNY said.
Cause under investigation
The cause of the blaze is being investigated, and officials have not yet said what started it. A crew specialising in hazardous materials was sent to the scene because of the presence of a lithium-ion battery, although it was not clear whether the battery was linked to the fire.
Mayor's reaction
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was "heartbroken" by the deaths. He asked New Yorkers to "take a moment to pray for the full recovery of those who were injured".
Source: BBC World.
Questions and answers
- How many people died in the Brooklyn fire?
- Six people died: four were pronounced dead at the scene, and a man and a woman died after being taken to hospital, according to the FDNY and NYPD.
- What caused the fire near Sunset Park in Brooklyn?
- The cause is being investigated. A hazardous materials crew was sent because a lithium-ion battery was present, but officials said it was not clear whether the battery was linked to the blaze.
- How many people were injured in the fire?
- Six other civilians were injured, two of them critically, and three firefighters were also hurt, the FDNY said.
