HE WAS ONLY 26, WITH A BABY ON THE WAY: ECUADORIAN FATHER AMONG 8 KILLED IN HORRIFIC BROOKLYN BUILDING COLLAPSE

José Luis Caguana Cosquillo had moved to the United States hoping to build a better future for his family. Now, his pregnant wife is facing life without him, while their young son must grow up without his father.

A family’s hopes for the future have been shattered after 26-year-old José Luis Caguana Cosquillo was identified as one of eight people killed in a devastating building collapse in Brooklyn, New York.

The young Ecuadorian construction worker was among the victims of the tragedy that struck the Flatbush neighborhood on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.

But behind the heartbreaking death toll is the story of a husband and father whose family was preparing to welcome another child into the world.

José Luis leaves behind his pregnant wife and their four-year-old son. His wife was reportedly due to give birth within days.

For his loved ones, the tragedy means losing a husband, a father and the person they depended on most.

HE CAME TO AMERICA TO GIVE HIS FAMILY A BETTER LIFE

José Luis was originally from Quisapincha, in Ecuador’s Tungurahua province. He had reportedly been living in the United States for approximately six years after leaving his home country in search of better opportunities.

He worked in construction and was the main financial provider for his family.

His brother Carlos Caguana spoke to local media about the devastating loss, describing José Luis as the person who supported the household.

“He was the sole provider for the family,” Carlos said, according to Telemundo.

The young father had been working to give his wife and son a more secure future. His family was also looking forward to the arrival of their second child.

Now, that long-awaited moment will come without him.

HIS WIFE WAS DAYS AWAY FROM GIVING BIRTH

Perhaps the most heartbreaking part of José Luis’s story is the timing.

His wife, Nataly Magaly Llumitasig, was expecting their second child and was reportedly due to give birth early the following week.

The couple already had a four-year-old son, Nathan.

José Luis had been excited about becoming a father again. In an interview with the New York Post, his wife recalled how he would talk about their coming baby, saying, “My baby is coming.”

But instead of preparing to welcome their newborn together, Nataly is now grieving the husband she lost.

She also faces the painful task of explaining to their young son that his father will not be coming home.

In the days after the collapse, she described her heart as broken and said she hoped both children would one day understand how deeply their father loved them.

A THREE-STORY BUILDING COLLAPSED IN FLATBUSH

The disaster happened shortly after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, near the intersection of Flatbush and Bedford Avenues in Brooklyn.

A three-story building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue suddenly collapsed into an adjoining construction and excavation site.

The structure contained a ground-floor business and residential apartments above it. The collapse also tore away part of a neighboring building, exposing rooms and belongings inside.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene, launching a massive search-and-rescue operation.

More than 250 firefighters and emergency personnel worked through the rubble, searching for people who might still be trapped.

Some construction workers who narrowly escaped the collapse reportedly returned to help dig survivors out of the debris.

Despite the enormous rescue effort, authorities ultimately confirmed that eight people had died.

Among the victims were two children, aged nine and ten.

Eighteen other people were injured, including four firefighters.

EIGHT LIVES LOST — INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

Authorities identified José Luis as one of the eight victims, alongside seven other people who lost their lives in the collapse.

The victims included residents and people connected to the nearby construction site.

Rescue operations concluded on Thursday, November 12, after officials determined that no further victims remained beneath the debris.

Investigators are now working to establish exactly what caused the building to fall.

The structure collapsed beside an active excavation site, and officials have been examining the surrounding construction work as part of their investigation.

City records and previous complaints about work at the site have also drawn attention, but authorities have not yet established the cause of the collapse.

A COMMUNITY REMEMBERS A FATHER WHO NEVER MADE IT HOME

José Luis was also remembered by people who knew him through soccer.

He played for Club Deportivo La Bahía in New York, where teammates and friends shared messages of grief following news of his death.

His passing has also deeply affected the Ecuadorian community, particularly people from his hometown of Quisapincha.

The Ecuadorian Consulate in New York has been in contact with affected families and is assisting with arrangements following the tragedy.

His family has reportedly requested that his body be returned to Ecuador for burial.

José Luis left his country six years ago with hopes of building a better life. He worked hard for the people he loved, never knowing that his journey would end so suddenly.

His little boy will grow up with memories of a father who loved him, and a new baby will enter the world without the chance to meet the man who was so excited for their arrival.

A husband, a father, a son and a friend — gone far too soon.

May José Luis rest in peace, and may his wife, children and loved ones find the strength to face the days ahead.