High winds topple 25-story skyscraper in Brazil

January 30, 2011 – BRAZIL – “A skyscraper in the city of Belem in Para State, Brazil, collapsed on Sunday, injuring several people and trapping three beneath piles of rubble. The incident occurred just as four construction workers had left the site. The collapsed building was in the process of construction and was due for release in December this year. The three trapped workers had been completing their shift, according to union representatives. According to a report filed by Reuters, the building tower collapsed after swaying dramatically in high winds and rain. It is unknown whether the building caused damage to surrounding structures as it fell, but police have cleared surrounding buildings while inspections are carried out. Emergency services in the city had been dispatched to the scene to find the trapped men, said Para state Health Minister Helio Franco, although it unknown if they survived. The collapse reduced the building to a pile of rubble. –Malaysian Sun