Two Brazilian workers die in Sintra crane collapse at unlicensed site
Two Brazilian painters died in Belas, Sintra, after an elevating crane fell from an upper floor onto a street, leading municipal officials to report the unlicensed site to prosecutors.
Fatal crane collapse during building maintenance
Emergency services responded at 8:04 on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, after an elevating crane collapsed on Rua Dona Inês de Castro in the parish of Belas, Sintra. Brazilian painters Charles Evangelista dos Santos and Irídio Gomes da Silva fell from a height reported between six and seven stories while working on the building's exterior. Both workers died at the scene, with municipal documents listing their ages as 28 and 40, while initial emergency logs recorded 38 and 40. The falling structure also caused damage to three vehicles parked on the street below. A third worker stationed on the rear side of the building avoided injury because the collapse occurred at the front facade. Exterior painting had commenced on the building's rear before workers transferred their operations to the front facade on Monday. Municipal authorities and emergency responders arranged psychological support for relatives of the deceased workers residing in Portugal.
Municipal findings and legal referral
The Sintra Municipal Council established that the construction project operated illegally without an official permit to occupy the public thoroughfare. Municipal officials stated that the contractor failed to submit prior notification before starting facade works, violating standard safety responsibilities. Sintra Mayor Marco Almeida visited the scene during the morning and mobilized technical teams to inspect the equipment. Almeida requested the immediate intervention of inspectors from the Working Conditions Authority (ACT) to evaluate labor safety on site. Residents in the surrounding neighborhood stated that the crane had displayed visible instability and swayed noticeably before falling. The municipality confirmed that formal violation reports are being prepared for submission to the Public Prosecutor's Office.
The detected infractions, within the scope of our competencies, will originate reports that will be sent to the Public Prosecutor to complement the authorities' process. Sintra City Council will act. This type of situation has rules and they must be respected.
- Crane collapses on Rua Dona Inês de Castro, killing two painters and damaging three vehicles
- Mayor Marco Almeida requests Working Conditions Authority inspectors on site
- Sintra municipality refers unlicensed construction to the Public Prosecutor
- CGTP labor union issues formal statement calling for reinforced workplace safety oversight
Labor union response and workplace safety records
The General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP), led by Tiago Oliveira, issued a formal statement urging immediate reinforcement of workplace safety inspections. The union federation called for a shift toward preventive policies, arguing that economic interests must never supersede worker protection. CGTP emphasized that regulatory bodies must receive sufficient resources to hold employers accountable for safety breaches.
The defense of life, health, and safety at work must constitute an absolute priority.
The fatal accident occurred after the government approved the National Strategy for Occupational Safety and Health (ENSST) for 2026–2027 in April to reduce fatal workplace incidents. According to 2024 data from the Directorate-General for Coordination and Planning (DGCP), total occupational accidents in Portugal increased 1.3% compared to 2023. The same DGCP statistical report noted that fatal workplace accidents declined 11.8% year-on-year to 120 deaths nationwide.
