Tragedy in Greater Recife: Building collapses, leaving residents buried, including children
According to information from firefighters, there are children among those who disappeared after the landslide in Greater Recife. The building was banned in 2010 and later occupied in 2012.
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On the morning of this Friday (7), part of a building located in the Janga neighborhood collapsed, in Paulista, in Greater Recife. Video recorded at the scene shows the extent of the incident. Unfortunately, 19 victims have been recorded so far: one person died and two were rescued alive. According to information from the Fire Department, another 16 people, including children, are still buried.
landslide
The collapse of the building located on Rua Dr. Luiz Inácio de Andrade Lima, belonging to Conjunto Beira-Mar, took place at 6:07 am this Friday. According to information from the fire department, one of the blocks completely collapsed, while the other suffered partial damage. It is worth mentioning that the buildings that collapsed had already been considered "condemned" by the Civil Defense of the State.
Rescue
Two people rescued alive were identified as a 15-year-old teenager and a 65-year-old woman, both with fractures. The teenager was referred to the Hospital da Restauração, located in Recife, where she underwent tests and is currently in a stable condition.
The other rescued victim, also found under the rubble, was taken to Miguel Arraes Hospital, in Paulista, due to polytrauma. After performing the exams, his health status is stable, awaiting transfer to another medical unit. Four other people suffered minor injuries and were also taken to Miguel Arraes Hospital, and possibly should be discharged by the end of this Friday.
searches
According to information provided by the Fire Department, eight vehicles from the corporation were sent to respond to the incident, after their teams identified the existence of victims. A Civil Defense of Paulista and the Executive Secretariat for Protection and Civil Defense of the State are also present on site, providing assistance in the work of firefighters. The Military Police are present to ensure the isolation of the area.
According to Colonel Robson Roberto, some of the buried victims communicated with firefighters during rescue operations. He highlighted that the sniffer dogs were of great help, as they already indicated possible locations of these victims. In addition, those who responded to team signals were more easily located. The colonel also explained that they are maintaining several work fronts, but he emphasized that it is necessary to act calmly and cautiously, as these are people trapped under the rubble and the priority is to get them out with their lives.
Immobile
The accident occurred in an architectural building known as the "coffin". This type of construction is characterized by the use of walls as a structural element, dispensing with the use of beams or pillars. The building in question had a ground floor and three floors, with four apartments on each floor.
According to the city of Paulista, the building has been banned by court order since 2010. However, in 2012, it was reoccupied by residents. In 2018, an inspection confirmed the ban, but residents remained in place. There is no information about whether these people were part of a housing program or whether they received any kind of support to leave an area at risk.
