Brazil judge issues $48m fine over deadly sinkhole - BBC News

Seven people died when a construction site suddenly collapsed, swallowing pedestrians and vehicles.

6 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Tiffany Wertheimer & Leonardo Rocha, Americas Regional EditorBBC News, LondonA judge in Brazil has fined officials and construction companies R$240m ($48.3m; £38.3m) over the collapse of a building site in the city of São Paulo.

Seven people were killed in the accident in 2007, when an enormous sinkhole suddenly opened up, swallowing pedestrians and vehicles.

Workers were digging a tunnel to extend the metro system in the Pinheiros neighbourhood when the earth gave way.

The judge said the collapse was due to "negligent" and "dangerous" acts.

Those in charge of the construction project ignored warnings from experts, who said "urgent" support structures were needed in the tunnel, and pushed ahead with the work to gain time, Judge Marcos de Lima Porta said, as reported by Brazilian newspaper O Globo.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-68330474

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