Building collapse in Brooklyn

CLINTON HILL (WABC) -- A 4-story building that housed a bar and apartments has collapsed in Brooklyn, leaving four people with minor injuries and leading to the evacuation of surrounding buildings.

All four of the injured were outside the building on Myrtle Avenue when it collapsed about 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Three refused medical attention. One man was taken to Brooklyn Hospital with an arm injury.

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The Fire Department says no one was inside the building when it collapsed.

The Fort Greene building has a history of violations. It was cited by the Buildings Department in May for cracks that ran from the ground floor to the roof of one wall.

Five residents report seeing a crack in the building.

The Buildings Department has sent inspectors to the scene.

Vesper Bar was on the ground floor of the building.

One of the residents of the building, Andrew Schneider, was visiting Los Angeles at the time. He mentioned the collapse on his Twitter account at http://twitter.com/helloandrewjs

Dora Brown and her daughter, Kayla, barely escaped the flying debris.

Dora said, "When the awning fell on the building that we were in, I was there and it hit me, and I pushed her out so it wouldn't hit her."

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