Houston news sites reported recently on the collapse of 2 large buildings in the vibrant historical center of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The story detailed the collapse and possible explosion of a 10-story and a 20-story building in Rio that left debris strewn over a wide area and buried cars and motorcycles in the nearby streets. The explosive Rio building collapse heavily damaged some nearby buildings and left a number of people injured.
The news story contained conflicting reports on whether or not the building collapse caused fatalities. There also appeared to be some uncertainty about the occupancy and use of the buildings and whether or not a natural gas explosion caused the destruction. A bank branch and a bakery occupied part of the lobby of one of the buildings. The building collapses occurred in the evening, so officials hoped for fewer casualties because of the late hour. At least one witness stated that one of the buildings was still heavily occupied when it went down.
Several witnesses reported hearing an explosion before the building came down, and numerous people noted that the smell of natural gas lingered at the scene. (Natural gas has no scent that the human nose can detect; the “natural gas smell” is added to it for safety reasons.) Utilities were apparently cut off to the area afterwards as a safety precaution.
Our building collapse attorneys pass this story along as a cautionary tale. Every year, throughout the U.S. and the globe, a number of buildings explode sue to natural gas leaks that suddenly ignite. Most of these incidents result in some fatalities. Gas is actually a pretty safe utility. When completely contained in piping, and when the gas is turned off when not in use, natural gas is safe.
Natural gas lines can easily cause explosions if they’re ruptured or leak gas in any way. When a leak or rupture occurs, or when the gas source is not completely turned off and gas builds up inside a structure, disaster can result. Any spark, excess heat, or the ill-advised lighting of a cigarette can set off a powerful explosion. The magnitude of the resulting explosion is generally dependent upon the size (diameter) of the ruptured line or the extent of the buildup of trapped gas.
Victims can suffer extensive burns, blindness, loss of limb, or even fatal injuries. Medical costs to treat injuries can soar to astronomical levels. But proving the cause of the injury and the negligence of another party in triggering the disaster is a complex and technical process. Victims need the help of experienced building collapse attorneys and qualified expert witnesses to convince a jury or an insurer of their rightful claim to financial compensation for their injuries.
If a building collapse harms you or a loved one, contact our experienced building collapse attorneys for a free initial legal consultation. Our in-depth knowledge of building collapse causes and issues could be the key to your success in winning a fair financial settlement for your injuries.