Sao Paulo building collapse kills at least 8 and injures dozens

At least eight people were killed and 25 injured when a building collapsed in Sao Paulo, officials said.

Firefighters worked through the night and into today searching with sniffer dogs to rescue people who may be trapped in the rubble. It is feared the death toll may rise as bodies are discovered.

The commercial building under construction “pancaked” onto itself yesterday. News reports said 35 people had been working on it at the time. People passing by on the street might also have been caught up in the falling debris, the reports said.

Nearby cars were covered with slabs of concrete which broke free from the building as it collapsed.

The two-storey building was for a chain of clothing stores called Torra Torra and had been under construction for three months.

An investigation has been launched into the incident. It was not immediately clear what caused the two-storey building to collapse.

“The work of finding victims requires patience and a skilled search,” Captain Marcos Palumbo of the fire department said.



“The number of deaths is likely to rise. It’s a situation full of risk and difficult access. The teams haven’t had more contact with anybody else under the rubble.”

Collapsing buildings whether under construction or old and poorly maintained

Such accidents involving old and poorly maintained buildings or those under construction occur frequently in Sao Paulo.

Brazil’s economic capital, home to 11million people, is one of 12 cities that will host next year’s World Cup.

Thursday 29 August 2013

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/sao-paulo-building-collapse-kills-8-and-injures-dozens-8787156.html