At least 14 people have been killed in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco when a dilapidated apartment building that housed many homeless people collapsed. The building had been empty for at least ten years. Six children were among the dead, firefighters reported on Saturday.
The building in the Recife suburb of Paulista collapsed in the early hours of Friday. A frantic search for possible victims followed. Rescue workers managed to pull two 15-year-old girls and a 65-year-old woman alive from under the rubble with the help of sniffer dogs, the fire service said. An 18-year-old man was also taken to hospital with serious injuries, but later died of his injuries.
Although the building was declared uninhabitable in 2010, it was used by the homeless, the municipality of Paulista said in a statement. According to the municipality, this is a “chronic” problem with abandoned buildings and the issue was raised during a recent visit by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is also from the northeastern state.
Rescuers search under the rubble for possible victims. ©AFP
The collapse of the apartment building in Paulista was already the second drama in less than three months in the state of Pernambuco. In April, a building collapsed in neighboring Olinda, killing at least five people.
A neighboring church has offered help to affected families to find alternative shelter, city officials said. The church also collects food, clothing, mattresses, water and hygiene products to distribute to families, officials added.
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2023-07-08 23:04:33
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