Four-storey shop collapses in São Paulo's Brás district; all 35 inside rescued, four lightly hurt

A four-storey commercial building collapsed in the Brás district of central São Paulo on Friday evening, November 6. All 35 people inside were rescued; four were taken to hospital with light injuries and are in stable condition. No one was killed and no one is missing.

48 firefighters deployed; sniffer dogs sweep the rubble

According to Reuters and the São Paulo fire department, the collapse happened at about 6:38 p.m. local time at a clothing store at Rua Maria Joaquina 192 in Brás, when the roof and mezzanine of the building gave way. The fire department sent 48 firefighters and 16 vehicles; 27 people were rescued from inside the building and eight more got out on their own before rescuers arrived. About 20 people had initially been trapped in a room that did not collapse. The four injured people were taken to the Mooca emergency care unit with abrasions and are doing well. Sniffer dogs carried out a thorough sweep of the roughly 900 square metres of rubble and confirmed no one was trapped underneath.

Cause unknown; mayor points to possible excess weight

The cause of the collapse has not been confirmed, and the site will undergo a technical examination by the Scientific Police. São Paulo mayor Ricardo Nunes said the main suspicion at present is excess weight on the slab, as many trucks had delivered fabric to be stored in the building, but that remains to be confirmed. Early media reports spoke of dozens injured; the fire department later updated the figure to four people with light injuries. Nearby streets have been closed for safety.

(Sources: Reuters; São Paulo Fire Department; SBT.)