Andraus Building (São Paulo) | commercial building

Brazil / Sao Paulo / São Paulo / Avenida São João
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Height (structure) 115 meters/377 feet
Floors (above ground) 32
Construction end 1962

In 1972 February, a fire rapidly (in just 25 minutes) spread from the 4th to the 27th floor. By chance the wind pressurized the only stairway. Most of the 750 occupants were protected by the wind that day. 16 persons were killed.

According to the Portuguese Wikipedia entry, a possible cause was listed as an electrical overload. Among the tenants in the building were the large German multinationals Henkel and Siemens. Two of the victims were Henkel executives. The building was repaired and now houses municipal and federal offices. See the link to that entry below.

A rare footage of the event can be seen on the following YouTube webpage:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGQ6D9hl8E4
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Wikipedia article: http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edifício_Andraus
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   23°32'29"S   46°38'31"W

Comments

  • I witnessed the fire from the street below. There were crowds around. People were in shock. The fire was so intense it burned the buildings at the other side of the Sao Joao Avenue, which is a well wide artery at the heart of Sao Paulo City. This fire, together with the Joelma Building fire in 1974, prompted a new code regarding building construction and safety.
  • Quite impressing your description Roberto since I know it is perfectly described
This article was last modified 9 years ago