At least two people have died and more than 17 others are injured after a building in New York City collapsed into an open construction site

At least two people have died and more than 17 others are injured after a building in New York City collapsed into an open construction site, officials have said.

It sparked a massive search-and-rescue operation, with more than 250 first responders at the scene in Brooklyn, trying to find survivors who may have been trapped under the rubble of the three-storey building.

Hours later, aerial video showed firefighters pulling a survivor, covered in dust, out of the debris on a stretcher.

Authorities are yet to determine what caused the sudden collapse at about 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

The rescue mission has been described as “extremely dangerous” by New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.

She added that people from the collapsed building and also the construction site had been trapped.

“Members have been working methodically and haven’t stopped since they arrived this afternoon,” Bonsignore said.

Some pictures of the collapsed building, on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, show an entire side of it gone, with bedrooms and closets exposed. Among the debris, smashed concrete and twisted metal, are household items and clothes.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined emergency responders at the scene, praising them for their rapid response.