Toll in Brazil building collapse rises to 17
January 28th, 2012 - 4:07 pm ICT by IANS ( Leave a comment )Rio de Janeiro, Jan 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Rescue workers have found the bodies of 17 people killed in the Jan 25 building collapse in Rio de Janeiro, authorities said Saturday.
Officials believe unauthorized construction work inside a 20-story, 72-year-old building damaged its structure and caused it to crumble, wrenching down two neighbouring office buildings of approximately the same age about 8.30 p.m. Wednesday.
The buildings housed offices that had mostly closed for the day and few people were on the normally busy street at the time.
The head of Rio state’s Civil Defense agency said the hunt for survivors will continue until Sunday.
City officials said the accident should not cast doubt on Rio’s ability to organise and host the upcoming 2014 soccer World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
“This was an isolated incident that occurred on private property,” the mayor’s office said in a statement. “The case is entirely unrelated to the preparations for the 2014 World Cup, the 2016 Olympic Games and other events that are already part of the city’s calendar.”
–IANS/RIA Novosti
rd
- FIFA announces Confederation Cup venues - Oct 21, 2011
- Brazil chopper with four onboard disappears - Aug 21, 2011
- World cup hosts Russia better organised than Brazil: Blatter - Jan 21, 2012
- 2016 Olympic committee denies lapses in relocation of residents - Sep 28, 2011
- Coca-Cola opens $120 mn plant for 2014 Winter Olympics - Sep 26, 2011
- Brazil displacing poor ahead of World Cup, Olympics: UN official - Apr 27, 2011
- Zoo presents 'royal tiger couple' - William and Kate - Apr 29, 2011
- Brazil to play five friendlies in preparation for Olympics - Jan 13, 2012
- China launches high-speed train in Brazil - Jun 10, 2011
- 37 killed in Brazil slum raids - Dec 05, 2010
- Two skyscrapers collapse in Brazil - Jan 26, 2012
- Brazil lights world's largest floating Christmas tree - Nov 28, 2011
- Nissan to invest $1.4 bn in new plant in Brazil - Oct 07, 2011
- Brazil to seek bids for high-speed rail line - Dec 08, 2009
- NBA legend Abdul-Jabbar pays visit to Flamengo - Jan 28, 2012
Tags: 2016 olympic games, 2016 olympics, authorities, brazil, building collapse, busy street, city officials, civil defense agency, construction work, doubt, jan 28, neighbouring, office buildings, olympic games, olympics, private property, ria novosti, rio de janeiro, soccer world cup, survivors
