Kaka's church collapses
- 00:01:38
- ITN
Kaka's church collapses
At least nine people died and more than 100 were injured when the roof of a Brazilian church, where soccer ace Kaka married, collapsed. Rescue workers have been sifting through the wreckage of the popular Reborn in Christ Church near downtown Sao Paulo - the country's biggest city. One body was found under the rubble and another person died in hospital on Monday, raising the death toll to nine, the youngest of whom was a 15-year-old girl. At least five people remain in a critical condition in hospitals and eight neighbouring buildings were evacuated after authorities feared the church collapse weakened their structures. Brazilian soccer star Kaka, who currently plays for AC Milan in Italy and is in possible talks for a transfer to Manchester City, is a Reborn in Christ follower. He was married in the same building in 2005. When Kaka was named World Player of the Year in 2007, he donated the trophy to the church. It was not immediately clear what caused the church, an old cinema, with the capacity to hold 1,800 people, to collapse. The church was temporarily shut down by authorities in 1999 because of a termite problem in the rafters but church leaders said the building was entirely up to code. The Reborn in Christ Church, which was created in 1986, has been the subject of controversy since its founders, Estevam and Sonia Hernandes, were arrested in Miami in 2007 for failing to declare more than $56,000 (£38,600) in cash when they entered the US. The couple, who are also wanted in Brazil on money laundering charges, said they were "saddened and shocked" by the incident. In a statement they said: "What happened was an unforeseen tragedy. We don't know the motive. But there must be a reason for so much suffering."
ITN | January 19, 2009
