A fire hit the Garoa guesthouse, in the center of Porto Alegre, and killed ten people during the early hours of this Friday. The flames started around 2am and were only contained at 4am by the Fire Department. The fire destroyed part of the building on Avenida Farrapos.
Another 11 local residents were injured, eight of whom were taken to the Porto Alegre Emergency Hospital and the remaining three went to Christ the Redeemer. One of them received care from the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu).
The cause of the fire still needs to be determined by members of the Fire Department and the Civil Police. Those who participated in fighting the flames believe that a lighter or a match may have started the flames.
According to the Firefighters’ report to Record TV, the inn did not have a Fire Prevention Plan (PPCI) and the location would be irregular.
According to the Fire Department, the building has four floors. Two of the victims’ bodies were on the first floor, five on the second and three on the third. No victims were found on the top floor.
Desperate escape
In an interview with Record TV, some residents who survived the fire reported that when the flames started, residents began to leave the apartments shouting “fire, fire”. The staircase at the site is large and some were forced to leave through the second floor canopy. Therefore, they had no alternative but to jump to save their lives.
*With information from reporter Gabriela Milanezi
Fire started around 2am this Friday
| Photo: Dalvani Albarello / Disclosure / CP
Seven people were injured after the fire at the inn
| Photo: Dalvani Albarello / Disclosure / CP
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
Fire hits guesthouse in the center of Porto Alegre
Camila Cunha
