Praia Grande municipal guard falls into sinkhole caused by water main rupture

A municipal guard (GCM) fell into a large sinkhole on the waterfront of Praia Grande, São Paulo, during the early hours of Monday. The incident occurred in the Caiçara neighborhood while the officer was inspecting the area following reports of ground instability.

The city government stated that the crater was caused by the rupture of a Sabesp water main. Heavy rainfall in the region, which recorded 39 millimeters in a 12-hour period, may have contributed to the instability. Witnesses reported that as rescue attempts were made, additional sections of the soil began to give way.

The officer managed to climb out of the hole using training techniques and was not injured. Sabesp has dispatched teams to the site to conduct a detailed assessment and determine responsibility for the infrastructure failure. The area remains isolated for safety.