At least 3 killed in fireworks explosion in Brazil

Blast outside Sao Paulo levels several homes; more than a dozen injured

	A Brazilian police sniffer dog searches for bodies at the site of collapsed houses in Santo Andre, on the outskirts of Sao Paolo, Sept. 24.
Paulo Whitaker / Reuters

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updated 3:02 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2009

SAO PAULO - A fireworks explosion demolished several houses and killed at least three people on the outskirts of Sao Paulo on Thursday, officials said.

About five houses were turned into rubble, and at least 14 people were injured by the blast in a residential neighborhood in the city of Santo Andre, according to the local fire department.

Television images showed the explosion blew the roofs of some buildings and demolished and overturned cars.

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Fire department spokesman Marco Antonio Barbosa said it wasn't clear if the building that exploded was used to make, store or sell fireworks.

Local news media earlier reported that as many as 11 people were killed, citing city officials.