Fire-ravaged tower block collapses in Brazil after inferno rips through the building

This is the horrifying moment a residential tower block crumbles in on itself in a ball of flames after a huge blaze ripped through the building.

The catastrophic collapse was caught on camera in the city of Sao Paolo, Brazil as horrified onlookers filmed the unfolding carnage.

In the clip, posted on Twitter, the 26-storey building can be seen smoldering from the blaze with flames licking up the side of the structure from several windows.

The block then suddenly bursts into a bright ball of fire – before a whole side of the building comes crashing down to earth.

The footage shows the entire building suddenly burst into a ball of flame before a whole side of it plummets to the earth

A number of residents can be seen on the upper floors of the building screaming for help in the clip.

Authorities say they do not know if there have been any casualties during the collapse – but they warned that it is highly likely.

Local news outlets reported that the building was occupied by homeless people from the local area.

Flabio Gabia, a receptionist who works in a nearby hotel, told Estadao: ‘When I went to see what it was, the streets, which were deserted, were filled with people desperately trying to get away.’

‘I was working at the time and I heard several people shouting.

‘Several clients left the establishment when they saw the fire. A hotel next to the burning buildings was also emptied and cordoned off.’

Firefighters can be seen at street level frantically attempting to control the raging fire before the building collapses

Local media reported that the building was 26-floors tall and formerly served as the headquarters of the Sao Paolo district’s federal police.

It is also claimed that the building’s homeless occupants were living there illegally at the time of the fire.