Panic gripped the São Bento metro station in São Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, May 30, after a 74-year-old homeless man set himself on fire in full public view. The harrowing moment was captured on video by bystanders, quickly going viral on social media and triggering widespread shock and speculation.
In the viral footage, the man stands still after setting himself ablaze, barely moving as panicked commuters and metro staff scramble around him. The video does not confirm whether anyone intervened or if the man received help from metro authorities. His condition remains unknown, and it’s unclear if he survived the incident.
No Confirmed Motive Yet, Police Investigating
A post on X by user @dom_lucre showed Grok AI responding that local police are currently investigating the incident as a possible case of self-harm. However, authorities have not released any official statement confirming the man’s motive. Speculation ranges from protest to mental health struggles or personal despair, but no concrete evidence has been provided.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
Meanwhile, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a local citizen immolated himself yesterday in the subway. 🇧🇷 🔥
Ironically, Immolation begins their two week tour of Brazil this week on June 5th. 🎸 🥁 🎤 🎸 pic.twitter.com/LX7j8Tj8pN
— Salty Republican Rocker II (@GGLAW3) June 1, 2025
Brazil’s Growing Homelessness Crisis
The disturbing incident comes amid a growing homelessness crisis in Brazil. According to Agência Brasil, the number of homeless people in the country rose to 327,925 in 2024—a 25% increase from the previous year and a staggering 14-fold rise since 2013, when the count stood at just 22,922.
In response, the federal government has launched measures like reserving free housing for individuals without shelter. However, critics argue that the support remains inadequate for the scale of the problem.
As the investigation continues, the incident has reignited conversations about mental health, public safety, and the urgent need for better support for Brazil’s homeless population.
