A four-story residential building experienced structural displacement on the night of April 15 in Itajaí, Santa Catarina, forcing the evacuation of 65 residents. Three people were injured by glass shards. The building remains cordoned off as causes are investigated.
The incident took place around 9:30 p.m. on Almirante Barroso Street in downtown Itajaí. The building, with 16 rental apartments, showed a subsidence of 30 to 40 centimeters, according to the Santa Catarina Fire Department. Rescue teams found residents already outside, gathered in an external area.
Three residents sustained minor injuries from glass shards during evacuation. Electricity was cut off, and the area was secured. Neighbors from two adjacent houses were also evacuated for safety, and part of a nearby condominium's garages was cordoned off.
Civil Defense teams and engineers are assessing damage, including a sunken ground floor, wall cracks, and destroyed masonry sections. An initial hypothesis points to the rupture of a cistern over 50 years old beneath the structure, impacting the foundation. On the morning of April 16, a pet was rescued from an apartment.
Itajaí City Hall set up an emergency shelter in a parish hall, though most displaced residents stayed with relatives or acquaintances. Technicians are monitoring for further movement, and building access remains prohibited pending a technical report. Hired engineers are evaluating emergency shoring to allow retrieval of residents' belongings.
