São Paulo building collapse kills six; inspector suspended over false demolition report

A 12-story residential building under construction collapsed in the early hours of 12 September on Rua Tequeci in São Paulo's Penha district, crushing adjacent houses. Six people died — three women, one of them pregnant, two men, and a child — while a man in his thirties and a seven-year-old child were rescued alive. The victims included five Bolivian nationals and one Paraguayan.

The building had been embargoed since 2021 after repeated inspections by the Penha subprefecture, and the municipality had sought a court-ordered demolition. In 2022 a new project was approved contingent on demolishing the old structure. However, a February 2024 inspection report signed by a municipal servant certified that demolition had been completed "in its entirety," allowing construction to proceed.

“The demolition was not carried out.”

City Prosecutor General Daniel Falcão stated the demolition never occurred. The servant who signed the false report has been suspended for at least 30 days while the Municipal Comptroller investigates how the document was issued. Mayor Ricardo Nunes confirmed the case involves the February 2024 certification.

Police have arrested one partner of the construction firm New Home and issued arrest warrants for two other company representatives. The Civil Defense has interdicted three surrounding properties. Heavy rains from 10 to 12 September caused at least eight deaths across Greater São Paulo, with one person still missing.