Football club fire kills 10

Rio de Janeiro:

A fire has engulfed a dormitory at the youth team training centre of one of Brazil’s biggest football clubs, killing 10 teenage players. The victims were all staying at Ninho de Urubu, the training ground of Flamengo football club in Rio de Janeiro.

Three teenagers were also injured, one of them seriously. He has been taken to hospital for specialist treatment.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the blaze.

However, local media report that the accommodation area was officially licensed by the state as a car park.

One young player said the fire started in an air conditioner in his room.

“The air conditioner caught fire and I ran out,” said Felipe Cardoso, a player with the under-17 side. “Thank God I managed to run and I’m still alive.”

Flamengo is one of Brazil’s biggest and bestknown clubs internationally. They play in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A league where they finished in second place last season.

Club president Rodolfo Landim told reporters this was “without a doubt the worst tragedy this club has been through” in its 123-year history. “The most important thing now is for us to try to minimise the pain and suffering of these families”.

“It’s a very sad day for Brazilian football,” he tweeted.

Brazilian star forward and Paris Saint-Germain player Neymar posted the club’s crest on Instagram, writing: “My sentiments.”

President Jair Bolsonaro, who is receiving treatment for pneumonia, tweeted a statement from the hospital “in solidarity” with the mourning families.

He said the tragedy made victims of young people “on the journey to realising their professional dreams”.

- BBC Sports