Flamengo honors academy fire victims in first match since tragedy

Brazilian club Flamengo played its first match since a fire broke out in its training ground and killed 10 academy players on February 8.

Nearly 30,000 fans, many with white balloons, banners and flags, attended the state championship match against rival Fluminense, ESPN reported.

The game was initially scheduled for last Saturday, only hours after the deadly incident, but was canceled after the tragedy.

Flamengo supporters sang a song to honor the dead at 10 minutes of play.

Survivor Cauan Emanuel, who was released from hospital this week, was filmed crying in the tribunes of the Maracana, sided by family members and Flamengo fans.

The victims were between 14 and 16 years old. Police are still investigating what caused the fire.

Fluminense won the match 1-0 with a goal from Luciano in second-half stoppage time.

GETTY IMAGES Flamengo supporters hold up a poster, in honor of the 10 youth academy players that died in a dormitory fire, before a Carioca Serie A match against Fluminense at the Maracanã stadium in Rio, Brazil, on February 14, 2019.