Disasters & Accidents

People trapped after building collapses in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, Jun 3 (EFE).- Three people have been rescued and at least three others were still trapped after a four-story residential building collapsed on Thursday in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

Authorities do not yet know if there have been fatalities in the accident in the western suburb of Rio das Pedras. Six teams of firefighters and ambulances were at the scene.

In statements to the Globo television network, the firefighter confirmed that at least three people, including a child, were still trapped under the rubble of the building, although they did not rule out the possibility of finding more victims.

“It’s a job of a lot of calm, a lot of patience. Our dogs are helping a lot. We are dealing with information at every moment,” Colonel Leandro Monteiro said.

Witnesses heard loud noises at around 2.00 local time (5.00 GMT) and the building collapsed about an hour and 20 minutes later.

A fire at the building has also been brought under control by firefighters.

Although the authorities have not said what caused the collapse, the deputy mayor of Rio’s west zone, Thalita Galhardo, did not rule out that the property, like many others in the largely poor area, was built illegally.

“Unfortunately, the constructions here are not legal and this type of accident ends up happening,” said Galhardo in an interview to Globo.

The building that collapsed Thursday was located in the same region of the Muzema community, also in the peripheral Rio das Pedras region where the collapse of two irregularly constructed buildings left 24 dead in April 2019. EFE

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