At least four people died and several were injured due to a premeditated fire that occurred in a shelter for homeless individuals in the downtown area of Sao José dos Campos, in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. According to local authorities, a 42-year-old man was arrested at the scene on charges of having started the fire by setting a sofa ablaze, which spread to the building and triggered the disaster in the social shelter.
The fire broke out early Monday morning at a assistance center where around twenty homeless individuals were present. The Sao José dos Campos Police reported that the fatalities, two men and two women aged between 50 and 61, died from burns, while the injured were urgently transported to nearby hospitals.
Authorities consider the incident as manslaughter and have requested a detailed investigation into what happened at the site. The Consoladora de los Afligidos Community, responsible for managing the shelter, expressed in a statement its deep sorrow for the tragedy that occurred.
"We are shocked by what happened in our facilities and deeply regret the loss of human lives and the injuries caused to those who were under our protection. We are cooperating with the authorities to clarify the circumstances of this tragic event," the Community stated in its communication.
