Deadly Fire Engulfs Makeshift Homeless Shelter in Brazil
A tragic fire ripped through a defunct hotel in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on Friday, claiming the lives of at least 10 people who were using the building as a makeshift homeless shelter. The blaze erupted at around 2 am local time, engulfing the Garoa Floresta in flames. Firefighters battled the inferno for three hours before finally containing it.
The fire department confirmed the grim death toll and stated that forensic experts were investigating the scene to identify the victims and determine the cause of the fire. Porto Alegre Mayor Sebastiao Melo confirmed that multiple injured individuals were rescued and transported to the hospital, though the exact number remained unclear. Local media reported that 11 people sustained injuries, some severe.
Images shared by Brazilian media outlets depicted the harrowing scene, with the building consumed by flames as firefighters desperately worked to extinguish the blaze. A resident, Marcelo Wagner Schelech, recounted the terrifying experience to local newspaper Zero Hora, stating that he barely escaped with his life. "I only had time to put on my flip-flops and run. My sister, who lived on the third floor, ended up being burned to death," he said.
Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite pledged a thorough investigation into the incident. He expressed his condolences to the victims' families and confirmed that the fire department had deployed five trucks and numerous firefighters to combat the flames. "We will continue working on the aftermath of this tragedy and the investigation of the causes," he stated.
The tragedy has sparked outrage and calls for accountability. Brazilian lawmaker Matheus Gomes accused the city government of funding the shelter despite its reported noncompliance with regulations for years. "There needs to be an investigation not only into the fire, but the entire chronicle of this tragedy foretold," he stated. The building belonged to the Garoa group, which operates at least 10 small hotels in Porto Alegre.