Residents Scream For Help As 26-Storey Building Occupied By Homeless People Goes Up In Flames (Photos)

A tower block in Brazil has collapsed after catching fire as residents were seen on the roof screaming for help, The Sun UK reports.

 

Firefighters continue to search for survivors through the rubble in the city of Sao Paulo although authorities fear there will be a large number of casualties.

 

Officials have reportedly said that at least one person has died while three are missing.

 

 

 

The 26-storey building was occupied by homeless people many of whom are believed to be trapped in the burning rubble, reports local media.

 

At least two buildings were set ablaze by the raging inferno, which started at around 1.30am local time, while firefighters have cordoned off the area around the blaze in Largo do Paissandu.

 

The tower which collapsed was a former federal police facility that has since been inhabited intermittently, according to Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo.

 

 

 

Locals told the newspaper they had seen people standing on top of the burning building, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

 

Flabio Gabia, a hotel receptionist who works nearby, told the Estadao newspaper: "When I went to see what it was, the streets were filled with desperate people.

 

 

More to follow...