Rio de Janeiro officials announce expropriations after Cosme Velho building collapse

The Rio de Janeiro municipal government has announced several infrastructure and safety measures following a partial building collapse in the Cosme Velho neighborhood. The incident, which occurred on a Saturday morning, injured a 43-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter as they were passing near the structure. The collapse prompted the Municipal Civil Defense to interdict the site and neighboring properties.

In response, Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere announced the expropriation of the collapsed property, as well as the Casa Portinari and Solar dos Abacaxis, to prevent further incidents caused by lack of maintenance. These properties are intended to be auctioned to new owners to ensure their preservation and proper use. The Mayor emphasized that the administration will continue to intervene in properties that fail to meet safety and preservation standards.

Separately, the city has inaugurated the ‘Bairro Maravilha’ works in Coelho Neto, in the North Zone. This R$ 11.8 million project involved the requalification of 2.5 kilometers of roads, including drainage, paving, and sewage network improvements, benefiting over 2,500 residents and renovating three local squares.