200 families in Brazil deprived of their homes due to a fire tragedy

A minimum of 200 families are thought to have lost their homes after a fire swept through a shanty town in the west of the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo. Images from the scene showed virtually the entire district of Diogo Pires swallowed up in flames. It took solid three hours to bring the fire under control.

Local fire officials say only 5% of an area of 2,000 sq m (21,500 sq feet) was unaffected by the fire and
some people were treated for smoke inhalation. The mayor of Sao Paulo, who visited the scene, has promised
that those affected will be provided with temporary accommodation by the city. Staff from 26 fire engines
engaged themselves in the activity of extinguishing the flames.  Residents struggled to save belongings -
such as this car – from the flames. Many local people said they feared they would have to spend the whole
night on the street. The cause of the fire is still not clear.