full screen The police in Bahia have launched an investigation after nine people were found dead. Archive image. Photo: Bruna Prado/AP/TT
Brazilian police are investigating a case where nine dead bodies have been found in two houses in Mata de São João in the state of Bahia. At least three of the dead must have been children, according to local media.
Five of the bodies were said to have been burned beyond recognition, two of them were said to have been partially burned while the last two had no burns, according to a statement from Bahia police.
A surviving child has been taken to hospital with serious burns.
The police have not commented on the cause of death or the focus of the investigation, but have interviewed neighbors and family members of the victims.
Last year, 6,600 murders were reported in the state of Bahia, which is the second highest figure in Brazil.