Dozens of people were found living inside an illegally converted building in Queens, city officials said Tuesday. 

Department of Buildings inspectors responding to reports of an illegal conversion at a two-story building in South Richmond Hill found nearly two dozen beds and bunk beds set up inside on Monday, the agency said. 

The building’s first-floor storefront and basement had been illegally converted into sleeping space, with no ventilation, natural light or proper exits in the latter, the DOB said. 

In a statement provided to NY1, Queens Councilmember Lynn Schulman, whose district includes South Richmond Hill, said more than 70 people were living on the two floors. 

“Not only is this illegal, but a safety hazard that could have led to an extremely worse outcome,” Schulman said. “My office is working with the FDNY and the Department of Buildings to ensure that the property is secured and the individuals are placed in a more suitable location.” 

On Tuesday, a man who identified himself as the owner of a furniture business that previously occupied the storefront, Ebou Sarr, told NY1 he had been renting the beds to migrants from countries including Senegal, Mauritania and Gambia. 

The men, who had been living in the city for several months, approached Sarr for help, he said. Those who could afford it had been paying him $300 per month for accommodations, he added. 

Sarr said he himself was renting the space from the building’s owner. 

“Why all these guys are here is because of what’s happening right now in New York City, OK? They have all these, a lot of people in this city, and they don’t have nowhere to go,” he said. 

“Because they don’t want to go through what’s going on right now. Sleeping outside in the streets,” he added. “They’re not animals, you know?” 

After inspectors responded to the building Monday, the DOB issued a full vacate order for its basement and first floor, citing overcrowding and hazardous fire trap conditions.

The department said it issued two violations to the building's landlord, which it identified as 132-03 Liberty Avenue Management Corporation: one for illegal work without a permit and another for occupying the building contrary to city records.

Those who had been living inside the building were referred to the city’s Office of Emergency Management for assistance, the agency said. 

Asked about the situation at a press briefing on Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams said city officials were “still investigating what happened here.” 

“The system did its job. It was first responded [to] by, I believe FDNY, and then DOB came in and made sure that those who were there were removed, and they were given the services that were available,” Adams said. “This was not brought to our attention until we had city agencies go out and investigate.” 

“When you have situations like what we are facing here, there’s some that’s going to attempt to exploit it, there’s some who are going to attempt to do illegal housing, so we have an obligation with DOB, FDNY and all of our services to respond and take necessary action,” he added “That’s what was done last night, and we’re still looking at exactly what took place.”