Condemned nine-story building collapses in São Paulo, killing two and leaving several missing
A condemned nine-story building fell onto a house in São Paulo during heavy rain, killing two women—including a pregnant victim—and leaving multiple people missing or injured.
Heavy rains triggered the collapse of a condemned nine-story building onto a neighboring house in São Paulo on Saturday morning, killing two women, one of whom was pregnant. The building had been stopped in 2019 due to reported irregularities, and the city had previously fined the contractor nearly $24,000 and ordered its demolition. At least eight people lived in the affected house; rescuers have saved a man and a boy, while firefighters are still looking for at least four individuals listed as missing.
City Comptroller Daniel Falcão confirmed that the contractor is now under investigation. The same storm system has caused a separate house collapse in Sapopemba, displacing 24 residents, and forced evacuations of two homes on the south side, affecting 14 people in total.
Why it matters
The tragedy highlights risks of unsafe construction and the deadly impact of extreme weather in Brazil's largest city.
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