Nine firefighters buried in the Brazilian state of São Paulo died today when the roof of the cave they were in during the exercise partially collapsed, local officials said.
“Nine dead and one saved alive. There are no more victims in this place, ”wrote the fire department of São Paulo on Twitter, which initially took care of 16 people trapped inside the cave.
The accident occurred at dawn when a group of 27 civilian firefighters were conducting an exercise in the Duas Bocas grotto, near Altinópolis, about 300 km north of São Paulo city, and part of the grotto collapsed, leaving 16 people trapped inside.
According to paramilitary police, six of them were not buried when the cave collapsed and managed to escape, being taken to hospital centers with minor injuries.
According to the São Paulo Fire Department, one person was rescued alive and taken to a hospital in the region with multiple fractures and hypothermia, while the remaining nine, who have not yet been identified, died from their injuries.
About 75 firefighters and rescuers worked during the day in search and rescue operations on site.
“Rescue is very difficult because of the current situation. It takes more than a kilometer to get to the place. A part of the cave has collapsed and we are working very carefully to save the lives of the groups as well, ”firefighters’ spokesman, Commander Rodrigo Leal, told the press.
The São Paulo government dispatched two helicopters and a rescue team to “reinforce the operation” to provide relief.
“I am following the rescue of the civilian firefighters who were buried in the collapse of a cave in Altinopolis,” and “I have ordered all the necessary support and resources for the rescue,” Sao Paulo Governor João Doria wrote on his social network Twitter. account, which is located in the Scottish city of Glasgow to participate in the UN climate summit COP26.
