At least two people have lost their lives and two others have been seriously injured this Saturday after the partial collapse of a twelve-story building in the city of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil, caused by the intense rains that have been hitting the region in recent hours, according to local authorities.
"Breaking news at 02:01 (local time). Collapse: Tequici street, 61 - Penha neighborhood. A total of four victims so far, of which, unfortunately, two have died at the scene and two (an adult and a child) have been urgently transferred to the emergency service in Tatuapé," the Brazilian Fire Department reported in an informational note on its social media.
The initial investigations indicate that eleven members of the same family were inside the home when the collapse occurred. Among the fatalities are two women, one of them pregnant. In turn, the two injured, a man and a minor, were evacuated immediately and urgently transferred to a nearby hospital.
Furthermore, the Fire Department has announced the "deployment of 59 men and 20 vehicles" to initiate search, rescue, and debris removal operations in the affected area.
The city of São Paulo remains on alert due to the persistent rains hitting the region. According to the Civil Defense, these rains favor landslides and the overflow of rivers and streams, although for now the authorities have ruled out the presence of an imminent risk of severe storms and tornadoes.
According to official data, in the last 48 hours, 26 incidents have been recorded in the locality, with collapses and landslides associated with strong winds. Inside the municipality, gusts of up to 92 kilometers per hour have been reached and, according to the Brazilian state agency, up to 100 millimeters of rain have accumulated in a single day.
In case of flooding or sudden rises, Civil Defense has urged citizens not to cross flooded areas, either on foot or by vehicle, and to stay away from rivers, streams, and areas with potential flood risk.