Husband recounts anguish after pregnant wife rescued from Brooklyn building collapse

FAA ground stop live updates: What to know as flights are grounded Husband recounts anguish after pregnant wife rescued from rubble By Krista McNally Saturday, November 14, 2026 12:13AM FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (WABC) -- A man whose pregnant wife was trapped when a Flatbush apartment building collapsed said Friday he is grateful she survived but is still mourning the loss of two relatives who died in the disaster.

The Details

Mamadou Mouctar Balde had left the building Wednesday to run errands when the apartment building came crashing down. Returning to the scene, he said he could not find his wife, Fatoumata Bah, or the neighbors he knew.

"I'm feeling sad, I'm very very sad, I don't have words to explain that," Balde said.

Speaking in French, Balde described arriving at the collapse site and searching for answers.

"When I arrived, I asked—I hadn't seen my wife, I hadn't seen my neighbors; I felt completely lost, not knowing what was happening," he said.

Earlier Wednesday, Balde could be seen desperately trying to learn what had happened to his wife, who is six months pregnant.

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The couple also shared an apartment with two cousins, identified as 31-year-old Mamadou N'Diaye and 23-year-old Mamadou Barry.

Barry was cooking and N'Diaye was sleeping on the couch, Balde said. Both were killed in the collapse and their bodies were recovered from the rubble.

Bah survived the collapse and was reported to be in stable condition.

"I have an update she is alive, she is still alive, I am very happy," Balde said.

On Friday morning, Balde thanked firefighters, police officers and others who assisted his family following the collapse.

"She is OK right now, she's at Kings County Hospital and they are taking care of her," he said.

When asked about the baby, Balde replied, "Yes, the baby is OK."

Despite the tragedy that claimed the lives of two family members, Balde said he was relieved that his wife and unborn child survived and were receiving care at the hospital.

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