A DEVASTATING explosion has destroyed 10 homes in Brazil, killing one person and injuring several others.
The blast happened in the early hours of Monday morning in western São Paulo.
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An explosion in São Paulo killed one and injured several more Credit: Reproduction/Globonews
It is thought the blast was caused when a nearby gas pipeline was damaged Credit: AFP
Authorities said a 45-year-old man was found dead, while three other people were rescued from beneath the rubble.
The explosion is believed to have been triggered after a nearby construction project damaged a gas pipeline.
Residents described hearing screams and desperate cries for help in the immediate aftermath of the blast.
Harrowing images show huge piles of bricks and debris as firefighters frantically searched through the wreckage for anyone trapped beneath it.
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Aerial views revealed the full extent of the damage Credit: Reproduction/Globonews
Authorities confirmed there was no chance of further explosions
The force of the explosion was so powerful it shattered windows in neighbouring buildings.
The Fire Department deployed 12 vehicles to the scene.
When they arrived crews were met by a strong smell of gas, prompting the evacuation of nearby residents.
Firefighters later confirmed there was no further risk of explosions.
A spokesperson for the Fire Department said: “The teams are on site, the canine unit has already been called in, and they will arrive to verify if there are any victims under the rubble.
“The Fire Department’s work at this moment is to remove the upper part and try to access the house of any possible victim who may be under the rubble.”
An investigation is now underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
This is not the first deadly explosion of its kind.
Earlier this month, at least nine workers were killed in a blast at a coal mine in Colombia.
Another six miners were rescued from the network of crumbling shafts after emergency crews rushed to the scene in Sutatausa, around 45 miles north of the capital, Bogotá.
The tragedy came just weeks after inspectors raised serious safety concerns about the mine.
Colombia’s National Mining Agency (ANM) had warned operators about a “potentially dangerous gas build-up” during an inspection on April 9.
In a statement, the agency said: “As the ANM has warned during its inspection visits, coal deposits can present accumulations of gases such as methane, as well as concentrations of coal dust.”
Officials later said a build-up of gases was believed to have triggered the explosion at around 4pm on May 5.
Mining accidents are tragically common in Colombia and are often linked to poor ventilation and unsafe working conditions.
In 2023, 21 workers were killed when an explosion ripped through coal mine tunnels in Sutatausa.
