by DANIEL EDWARD ROSEN
The four-story building that collapsed in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn Sunday had been issued a violation in May for a vertical crack in an exterior wall running from the first to third floors, according to city Department of Buildings records.
Four people suffered minor injuries, one of whom was transported to The Brooklyn Hospital Center on DeKalb Avenue for treatment after the collapse at 493 Myrtle Ave., New York City Fire Department officials said.
Firefighters evacuated residents of two adjacent apartment buildings, authorities said, and gas and electricity were shut off on Myrtle Avenue between Ryerson and Hall Streets as a precaution.
"It appears at this time that there were some structural issues with the building [at 493]," said Deputy Assistant Chief John Sudnik, who added that the Department of Buildings was investigating.
Building owner William Sang said no tenants were in the building at the time.
Around 1:55 p.m., Sudnik said, the front wall of the red brick tenement buckled, followed by the right-side wall, which was surrounded by scaffolding.
Witnesses said they heard a rattling noise and scrambled to safety.
Nora Mercado, 61, who lives next door, said she was in her second-floor apartment with relatives. "I heard something real loud and I said, 'This is not a mouse,' " Mercado said.
Her granddaughter, Caytlyn, 10, jumped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a towel, and the two rushed downstairs.
But when the canopy from a first-floor fish store fell and blocked the exit, the two were trapped inside until firefighters arrived, Mercado said.
"There were people in front of the building," said Jim Mutton, 42, who was parking his car nearby. "And then a canopy came down and they just got out of the way. Literally, 30 seconds after that, the building tilted to the right and came right down."
According to city records, there are three open violations at 493 Myrtle Ave.
In response to complaints that the building was shaking, an inspector on May 1 found the facade of the east wall had a crack a half-inch to 1 inch thick running from the first to the third floor. Inspectors in early June issued violations for working without a permit and for obstructions to the fire escape, records show.
Building resident Anh Nhueyn, 28, said workers had been repairing a crack in the structure for at least a week. Nhueyn, who was skateboarding when the building came crashing down, said he lost "everything."
"But it's just material stuff," he said. "Luckily I was out skateboarding."
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