Apartment building collapse kills 14 in Brazil

By REUTERS

Published: JULY 9, 2023 02:47

Rescue workers look for victims among debris of a building collapse in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil July 7, 2023. (photo credit: REUTERS/ANDERSON STEVENS) — Rescue workers look for victims among debris of a building collapse in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil July 7, 2023.

(photo credit: REUTERS/ANDERSON STEVENS)

A residential building collapse in Brazil on Friday caused 14 deaths.

A residential building collapse in northeastern Brazil killed 14 people, civil defense officials said on Saturday, as the last missing people were found lifeless.

The collapse occurred on Friday in the Janga neighborhood on the outskirts of Recife, the capital of the northeastern state of Pernambuco.

The apartment building collapsed during heavy rains that struck the region while many residents were still asleep.

According to a statement from civil defense, three people managed to survive the collapse, whose cause remains unclear.

On Friday, officials had already reported eight deaths.

Rescue workers look for victims among debris of a building collapse in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil July 7, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/ANDERSON STEVENS)

Dangerous rainfall

Governor Raquel Lyra of Pernambuco expressed her condolences on Twitter, pledging that the state government would spare no effort in assisting families in need.

Recife, a coastal city with around 1.5 million residents, has been grappling with heavy rainfall in recent days.