A four-storey building has collapsed in central São Paulo in Brazil, leaving dozens of people injured and triggering an urgent emergency rescue operation.
The structure, which housed a clothing shop in the city centre, was completely destroyed when it gave way on Friday evening. Emergency services were alerted to the incident at 6.38pm local time, prompting an immediate response from municipal authorities.
The São Paulo state fire department, Corpo de Bombeiros, deployed 48 emergency workers and 16 rescue vehicles to the location. Initial estimates indicated that between 20 and 25 victims were at the site when the building collapsed, according to Brazilian news website G1.
Seventeen people managed to escape from the rubble and were receiving medical attention at the scene. Authorities reported that all of those rescued had sustained light injuries.
Eyewitness Account of the Collapse
Neighbours living near the property described hearing a massive crash before emergency teams arrived to search the wreckage. One local resident recounted seeing survivors being pulled alive from beneath mounds of debris.
The resident, identified by G1 as Claudneia, said that at around 6.30pm her daughter shouted out in panic, believing that a lorry had crashed into the street outside. Claudneia explained that her daughter then looked out, saw thick smoke rising from the scene, and realised that it was not a vehicle collision but that the clothing shop had collapsed.
Emergency Response in Central São Paulo
The incident occurred in the central district of São Paulo, Brazil's largest city and economic capital. The central area is known for dense commercial avenues, historical architecture, and busy retail corridors that attract large crowds of shoppers and workers throughout the day.
Specialised search and rescue operations were continuing at the site as firefighters worked through the night to clear debris and check for anyone who might still be trapped. Officials stated that the causes of the collapse remain unknown, with structural engineers expected to investigate once the rubble is fully secured.
