São Paulo building collapse kills six in Penha

A building collapse in the Penha neighborhood of eastern São Paulo has resulted in six deaths. The incident occurred around 2:00 AM on Saturday when an 11-story construction site collapsed onto an adjacent residence.

The victims, who were staying in the impacted home, included seven Bolivian nationals and one Paraguayan national. The deceased, which includes a pregnant woman, will be transported to Bolivia for burial. Two individuals—a man and a seven-year-old child—survived with minor injuries. The residence also served as a sewing workshop.

Investigations into the cause of the collapse are underway. While heavy rains occurred in the city, authorities stated that the weather alone cannot be attributed as the sole cause. The construction project, which began in 2019, had a history of irregularities; it had previously been fined and faced legal action for lacking proper permits. Although a new permit was issued in 2023 contingent upon the demolition of the old structure, the building remained standing. The São Paulo City Hall has opened an inquiry through the Municipal Comptroller General to investigate failures in the inspection and oversight processes.