Brazil - Dramatic Footage Captures Collapse of Abandoned Tower Filled with Squatters in São Paulo

Shocking news to report coming out of the São Paulo, Brazil area where an abandoned high rise apartment tower that was occupied by homeless Brazilians squatters and vagrants not only caught fire but collapsed with numerous people still inside of the multi-story building.

At least one fatality has already been confirmed by the São Paulo Fire Department, with emergency responders on the scene treating what's believed to be a dozen or more vagrants and drifters who've sheltered inside the abandoned units as a means of avoiding the streets.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">VIDEO: Dramatic Moment Blazing Building Collapses in Sao Paulo<br><br>An abandoned high-rise building occupied in downtown <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaoPaulo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaoPaulo</a> caught fire and collapsed Tuesday. Firefighters said at least one person had been killed in the collapse and that there could be more. <a href="https://t.co/69bJTBrjsq">pic.twitter.com/69bJTBrjsq</a></p>&mdash; The Voice of America (@VOANews) <a href="https://twitter.com/VOANews/status/991329884717965317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The building itself once housed the federal police headquarters and was later turned into a rental unit tower prior to it being abandoned. It's remained in its isolated existence for several years, according to locals, who suggested that it's people a retreat for the homeless population in the region as well as the drifters who pass through the area.

Local Brazilian television station Globo TV reported that the fire first broke out shortly after 1:30 am in the dark of night, making it more difficult for firefighters to scour the building for any additional trapped squatters.

Debris and soot could be seen falling through the air in the neighbouring community, as the twenty stories high structure began to crumble and creak, before finally giving way to a partial collapse.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Many casualties feared after the Paisandu Plaza Towerblock in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, collapses after a massive fire. <a href="https://t.co/oVSAcD15r5">pic.twitter.com/oVSAcD15r5</a></p>&mdash; News_Executive (@News_Executive) <a href="https://twitter.com/News_Executive/status/991233834430722048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The extraordinary footage was taken which caught the very moments some of the building began to implode upon itself, as more of the levels have fallen in recent hours.

A local man, Marco Abreu, says that as the fire began to burn it spread and caused structural damage to other buildings, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church of São Paulo.

Abreu also said there are reports of others missing from within the tower, as first responders and firefighters believe that there could be either individual trapped they have yet to find if not additional fatalities.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hi, I&#39;m form São Paulo, Brasil.Firefighters continue to fight fire outbreaks, residents talk about many missing, what sadness for us Brazilians. The fire rocked the structure of other buildings and destroyed the traditional Evangelical Lutheran Church of São Paulo.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brazil?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Brazil</a> <a href="https://t.co/PnfjNPrSbF">pic.twitter.com/PnfjNPrSbF</a></p>&mdash; Marco Abreu (@marcoabreu44) <a href="https://twitter.com/marcoabreu44/status/991285961853165571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2018</a></blockquote>

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This is a tragic and breaking story, we will update with any additional information as it becomes available. May God help the homeless in São Paulo.

Additional Sources or Relevant Information:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/burning-high-rise-occupied-squatters-slideshow-wp-142623917.html

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