Ten killed in fire at Rio football complex

BLAZE ‘AT FLAMENGO DORM’

A FIRE has torn through the sprawling training complex of one of Brazil’s biggest football clubs, killing 10 people and leaving three teenagers injured, firefighters said.

Crews were called just after 5am yesterday to the Ninho de Urubu training ground of the Flamengo club in western Rio de Janeiro, a fire official said. There was no word on the cause of the fire.

The ages and identities of those killed were not released, but the three injured were 14, 15 and 16, the fire official said.

Beatriz Busch, the public health secretary for the state of Rio de Janeiro, said two of the injured were in a stable condition and one was in a critical condition. “Those who died were athletes,” she added.

Local media reported that the fire started in a dormitory where youth players sleep. The fire official said that could not be confirmed.

Aerial images from Globo TV showed smoke emerging from a charred area.

Flamengo have a youth development programme for promising young players in their early teens. Many players stay at the facilities while training.

“Flamengo is in mourning,” the team posted on its Twitter account.

Family members, friends and neighbours were gathering outside in hopes of getting information.

Flamengo are arguably Brazil’s most famous club, with an estimated 40 million fans nationwide.