Firefighters search for people who are trapped after a building collapsed in Fortaleza
RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a building collapse in Brazil has risen to four, officials said, but the figure could go higher as rescuers search for another six people reported missing.
Initial reports said nine people were pulled alive from the rubble of the seven-story apartment building in the northeastern city of Fortaleza after it imploded on Tuesday.
Among those rescued was architecture student David Sampaio, who was located after sending a selfie to his WhatsApp chat group showing himself smiling and with his thumb up while trapped under debris.
It is still not clear what caused the building to suddenly collapse. But the tower had been built illegally, G1 news site reported earlier, citing the city council.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ceara state public security department said four deaths had been recorded so far.
G1 later reported a fifth body had been pulled from the rubble. — NNN-AGENCIES
