Second dead body found under rubble in São Paulo

Firefighters early on Tuesday morning (May 8) located the second dead body of a victim under the rubble of the Wilton Paes de Almeida building, which collapsed after a fire in downtown São Paulo. The corpse was carbonized and seemed to be that of a child.

Excavations were intensified where the body was located, as other victims may be found nearby. This victim may be one of the twin brothers who lived with their mother in the high-rise. The corpse previously retrieved was that of former resident Ricardo Pinheiro.

The Fire Department believes that six people may still lie in the wreckage - Rovena Rosa/Agência Brasil

The Fire Department believes that six people may still lie in the wreckage. The Civil Defense, in turn, estimates missing people to add up to 72—i.e. those who have not reported to the authorities but were registered as living in the building as part of a survey conducted by city authorities before the building came down. That does not mean, however, that all of them were in when the disaster took place.

Firefighters also disclosed the name of another missing victim, Francisco Lemos Dantas, aged 56, who lived on the 58th floor. His relatives are looking for him.

The Wilton Paes de Almeida edifice belonged to the federal government. It had been abandoned and was occupied by a number of families, including international ones. The occupation was spearheaded by the Fight for Housing Social Movement.