11 Feared Dead in Rio Buildings Collapse

Two high-rises fall, witnesses suspect gas
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 26, 2012 12:03 AM CST
11 Feared Dead in Rio Buildings Collapse
Rescue workers search for victims after two buildings collapsed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.   (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

At least 11 people are feared dead after the collapse of two high-rise buildings in downtown Rio de Janeiro. Emergency rescue workers were scrambling to dig out any survivors, and managed to free five people. The buildings, one 20 stories tall, crushed a four-story construction site nearby, and buried the surrounding streets and cars in rubble and dust. Officials are uncertain of a cause, but area witnesses reported smelling gas before the buildings collapsed. "It was like an earthquake," a witness told the BBC. First, some pieces of the buildings started to fall down. People started to run. And then it all fell down at once." (More collapse stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X