Construction Collapse in São Paulo Leaves Three Dead and Three Missing

Overview

• A building under construction collapsed onto a neighboring house in Penha, East São Paulo, during heavy rain in the early hours of Saturday, September 12, killing three people including a pregnant woman and leaving three others missing.
• Rescue teams have kept operations running for hours with about 70 firefighters, 22 vehicles, search dogs and heavy equipment to remove rubble and try to reach possible survivors.
• City records show a disputed regulatory history: a 2019 permit request was denied, the Prefeitura sought demolition in 2021, a new alvará was issued in 2023 conditional on demolishing the previous structure, and a 2024 inspection reported the demolition was done.
• The Controladoria Geral do Município has opened an audit into the 2024 inspection and a municipal employee who signed the laudo was suspended, while the Polícia Civil has launched a criminal inquiry and the construction firm New Home says it is conducting an internal investigation.
• Technical causes remain undetermined because of heavy rain on the night of the collapse and questions about plans, foundation work and possible extra floors, and investigators will rely on engineering laudos and document reviews to assign responsibility.