RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A building collapsed at dawn today, June 3, in the favela of Rio das Pedras, in the west zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro. According to the Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance, Laura Carneiro, three people were rescued alive. They were referred to the Lourenço Jorge Municipal Hospital.
According to the Fire Department, a woman was located under the rubble, but she has not yet been rescued. She is alive and reported that two other people were buried, including a child.
The accident occurred on Areinha Avenue, near Uvas Street, at around 3:20 AM today. When firefighters reached the scene, they also needed to fight the flames reaching the rubble.
There is no information as to what caused the collapse of the structure, nor if the building was legal. The collapse affected three buildings, two across the street and an adjoining building.
In April 2019, two illegal buildings collapsed in the neighboring favela of Muzema, leaving 24 dead.