Blazing Sao Paulo Building Collapses

A 26-storey building has collapsed after being engulfed in flames in Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paulo, killing at least one person. More than 150 firefighters are battling the blaze which is thought to have been caused by a gas explosion, BBC reported. The high-rise had been occupied by squatters. Fire authorities said they feared more people were trapped inside. Witnesses said flames spread quickly from one of the lower floors and set an adjacent building on fire. Some 50 families had moved into the building in the Largo do Paissandu area of the city after the federal police force, which had been using it, vacated it some years ago. Makeshift living compartments in the building had been constructed from wood, aiding the spread of the blaze through the floors. Firefighters evacuated the high-rise but as they were taking out the last of the residents the building collapsed, killing one man. One firefighter was injured.