At least two people were killed and more than 17 others injured after a three-storey building collapsed into an adjoining construction site in New York City, triggering a massive search-and-rescue operation.
More than 250 emergency responders rushed to the scene in Brooklyn, searching through the rubble for people feared trapped beneath the debris.
Hours after the collapse, aerial footage showed firefighters rescuing a dust-covered woman on a stretcher. She was later identified as a six-month pregnant woman, whose husband confirmed that she had survived.
Authorities have yet to determine how many people remain missing or identify those killed and injured in the incident.
An investigation is underway to establish the cause of Wednesday afternoon's sudden collapse.
The building came down at around 4pm local time (2100 GMT), with witnesses describing a loud explosion-like sound followed by screams.
"I live literally right behind the building," Emmanuella Carilus told The New York Times, recalling a loud bang followed by people screaming.
Another witness, identified only as Dashik, told local television station PIX 11 that he had never seen anything like it.
Residents gathered near the site as emergency crews continued their efforts to locate those potentially trapped under the debris.
New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore described the rescue operation as "extremely dangerous", saying people from both the collapsed building and the adjacent construction site had been trapped.
She said firefighters had been working systematically without interruption since arriving at the scene.
The woman rescued from the rubble was identified by her husband, who expressed relief after learning that she was alive.
Speaking to CBS News New York, he said: "She is alive. She is still alive. I'm very happy. I'm very happy. I'm very happy. I thank all of you guys. She's pregnant, six months."
Rescue teams have been using search dogs, drones, axes and chainsaws to search the debris. Officials warned that the operation could continue for several days.
Images from the scene on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn showed an entire side of the building had collapsed, exposing parts of its interior, including bedrooms, staircases and wardrobes.
Household belongings, clothing, broken concrete and twisted metal were scattered across the debris.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani visited the site and praised emergency responders for their swift action.
"They arrived in under a minute and have spent hours working in dangerous and highly technical conditions to rescue New Yorkers," he later wrote on X.
According to city records cited by CBS, the building was constructed in 1930.
FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito said construction work was underway at an adjacent site where plans had been approved for a new building when the collapse occurred.
Another official described the activity as excavation work, but it was not immediately clear whether the construction activity contributed to the collapse of the neighbouring building.
Source: BBC