Man dies after being pulled from flooded Brooklyn basement amid record rainfall
A 39-year-old man died Thursday after being rescued from a flooded basement in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, during a historic storm that hit New York City.
October 30, 2025 - 08:35 PM ET • 2 min read
A 39-year-old man died Thursday after being recovered from a flooded basement in Brooklyn, officials confirmed, as New York City experienced widespread flooding and record rainfall due to a severe storm.
The incident occurred in the East Flatbush neighborhood. Authorities received a call reporting a person trapped in a flooded basement at 564 Kingston Avenue around 4:23 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. EDT on Thursday, October 30, according to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Upon arrival, an FDNY rescue dive team entered the flooded basement to search for the individual. Rescuers successfully removed the 39-year-old man from the water.
The individual was subsequently transported by FDNY Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to a nearby hospital, identified by officials as Kings County Hospital in one report. He was later pronounced dead by hospital staff.
Police officials confirmed that the man was deceased shortly after the rescue. The identity of the deceased and the exact cause of death remain unknown as the investigation into the incident is ongoing, officials said.
The fatal incident occurred amid a historic storm that brought heavy rainfall and significant flooding across the five boroughs of New York City on Thursday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that the city saw record rainfall for October 30. Preliminary data indicated that 1.80 inches of rain fell in Central Park, breaking the previous record of 1.64 inches set on the same date in 1917. NWS records for Central Park date back to 1869. Forecasters also noted significant rainfall totals at other locations, including LaGuardia Airport.
The heavy precipitation led to widespread street flooding and hazardous conditions throughout the afternoon, contributing to the dangerous circumstances that led to the death in East Flatbush. The storm prompted emergency management officials to issue warnings regarding flash flooding and travel disruptions across the metropolitan area.