Demolition and evacuation ordered after building collapse

A 25-year-old construction worker was killed and three others sustained minor injuries yesterday when a bungalow being expanded into a two-story single family home collapsed like a layer cake sliding off its base shortly before 11 a.m. in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn.

An emergency order to demolish the remaining structure at 40 Frank Court and an order to temporarily evacuate the building next door at 38 Frank Court was issued "as a safety precaution," by the NYC Buildings Department yesterday afternoon. All the proper permits had been filed for the building, which was an enlargement of the structure both vertically and horizontally, said Buildings Department spokesperson Ryan FitzGibbon. "We're looking into the on-site design," and other factors that might have caused the cave in.

The collapse apparently occurred because of inadequate anchoring of the second story to the existing structure, which itself was in very poor shape, although the investigation is continuing, Fitzgibbon said. Workers were setting up and climbing ladders to the roof when the implosion occurred, she said.

About 50 firefighters from eight units responded to the collapse, which occurred near the intersection of Seba Ave.