Police say the owner of the explosives warehouse was a balloonist.

According to São Paulo Civil Police, Adil de Oliveira Mariano, 46, is missing and is believed to be the person killed in the crash. His family visited the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IML) to try to confirm the identity of the body found near the compound, but the body was virtually unrecognizable and could not be identified.

Neighbors at risk: Civil Defense closes 23 facilities near fireworks warehouses

Video: Watch the explosion at the fireworks warehouse in SP East Zone

At a press conference this Friday morning, Felipe Soares, head of the Special Unit for the Suppression of Organized Crime (Cherco), Division 5 of the São Paulo Police Department, said that Mariano had rented the residence that exploded about 40 days ago. According to him, his neighbors knew little about him.

— Let’s try to determine who Adeel was collaborating with, whether he was acting alone, who he bought from, and how much money he had there. Gates seized the artifacts and handed them over to police. After that, Soares said, it will be known whether it is an explosive, whether it is dynamite.

It remains to be seen whether Mariano was simply storing explosives or was also manufacturing them. Police interviewed some of his family members to understand the situation.

The cause of the accident has not yet been determined as police are not at the scene.

After the explosion, the São Paulo Civil Defense Department closed 23 facilities adjacent to the fireworks warehouse, with 12 facilities completely closed and 11 facilities partially closed. According to the agency, the affected residents were taken into care by their families.

According to the fire department, the property where the explosion occurred did not have a permit for the manufacture or storage of fireworks.

— In fact, it was supposed to be a residence, not a functioning one. Handling or storing fireworks in residential areas is prohibited by law. To do this, companies must follow a series of requirements, including distancing from businesses and homes. This is to ensure there are no casualties in the accident, says Captain Caroline Magalhães, spokesperson for the São Paulo Fire Department.

In addition to Mariano, 10 other victims who lived in six neighboring houses were affected, six of whom suffered minor injuries.

Among the victims in critical condition was a woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury. Her 19-year-old son had bruises on his hands.

The incident occurred around 7:40 p.m. on Calle Francisco Bueno, 79, Tatuape. The property was completely destroyed.

Civil Defense said the City Protection Coordination Office was alerted and found “significant property damage affecting several commercial and residential properties and vehicles.”

A total of 13 vehicles and 27 fire department personnel took part in rescuing the victims and extinguishing the fire. The ship’s captain said the remaining materials had been transported and there was no longer any risk of explosion.

The explosion struck a nearby property, toppling a metal structure and damaging several vehicles parked in the area, according to Sao Paulo’s public security secretariat.

“Due to the strength of the impact, Salim Farah Marouf Street was also temporarily closed to ensure the safety of the operating teams,” the memo said.

Some of the victims were taken to Nipo Brasileiro Hospital. Other victims were taken to nearby health centers or treated at the scene by emergency teams, the ministry said.