The structure, attached to a 33-story building, suddenly collapsed, although we still don’t know why. One of the workers did not survive. An investigation has been launched.
Fearful scene in Brazil. South of Sao Paulo on Tuesday, workers were hanging unsecured about 140 meters above the ground after their scaffolding collapsed, Brazilian media reported. One of them did not survive his injuries.
A crane helps the workers
In Chacara Santo Antonio, near Sao Paulo, several workers were working at heights on a building under construction when they suddenly found themselves hanging without protection around 4 p.m.
In videos widely shared on social networks, we see several silhouettes hanging in the air, near an unfinished building, at an impressive height of 33 floors. Then a crane intervenes and carefully brings one of the workers to safety.
In fact, according to O Globo, ten fire engines and a helicopter were quickly on site after the accident to help the workers in distress. Four of them were rescued, including one who was taken to Campo Limpo Hospital for treatment. However, a man, whose identity was not released, died.
“A very loud noise”
According to a witness, Lidiane Dias, who worked in a hair salon near the scene of the accident, the structure suddenly collapsed without us yet knowing why.
“The noise was very loud, a lot of things fell,” she tells O Globo.
“There are still a lot of ambulances, firefighters and helicopters on the way here,” she assured half an hour after the accident.
An open investigation
Construction company Eztec told O Globo in a statement that it “deeply regrets” the accident and regrets that “despite the existence of safety and protective equipment, due to a fatal accident, one of the workers died.”
An investigation has been launched. “We currently know that an accident has occurred on the work and safety platform. The company will follow all recommendations of the relevant authorities,” assures the construction company.