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NEW YORK: New York authorities on Friday pledged a full investigation into how a residential building collapsed this week, killing eight people and injuring over a dozen more.<\/p>\n
The three-story property in Brooklyn tumbled into a neighboring excavation site on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a huge emergency response as firefighters pulled people from the rubble.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe families in this community deserve answers about what led to this collapse,\u201d New York Attorney General Leticia James told reporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I have faith that the investigators will follow the facts, and that anyone found responsible will be held to account,\u201d she said, noting that Brooklyn\u2019s district prosecutor had launched a criminal probe.<\/p>\n
New York\u2019s fire department declared Thursday afternoon there were no further victims at the site after emergency workers spent hours searching with drones and dogs.<\/p>\n
Two children were among the eight dead, with victims\u2019 ages ranging from nine to 31.<\/p>\n
Officials have only begun investigating the collapse but attention has focused on the neighboring construction site, where foundations were being prepared for a planned nine-story property.<\/p>\n
City Council Speaker Julie Menin told reporters she wanted to strengthen New York\u2019s building codes and regulations after the collapse.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an unspeakable, horrendous tragedy, and we must meet this moment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n