A high-rise building, the Botanik Torre Flora located in Recife, Brazil, caught fire late Thursday, 28 March.
According to an eyewitness who caught the event, the fire did not appear to be spreading to surrounding buildings, but rubble was falling onto the construction site below.
Authorities turned off the power and evacuated surrounding buildings as a precaution.
"The Fire Department is working on the scene and ensuring that everyone who lives in the area stays safe," Pernambuco Governor Raquel Lyra stated.
According to reports, the building was still under construction and was expected to be completed by 2026. Footage shows around ten storeys affected by the fire.
The only person on the scene was a security guard, who quickly noticed the fire and managed to escape uninjured. Despite the strength of the flames, there were no early reports of injuries.
Authorities got the fire warning at 8:00 p.m. local time, according to preliminary information from the Pernambuco Military Fire Department (CBMPE), and responded with two firefighting teams, four hydrant vehicles, a lifting platform, and an operational command centre. A helicopter was also brought in to help in the firefighting efforts.
Residents of six nearby buildings were evacuated, according to Pernambuco's Executive Secretary of Civil Defence, Colonel Clóvis Fernandes Dias Ramalho.
Recife Mayor João Campos stated that Civil Defence teams were present to assist firemen in "blocking access to the streets and nearby areas."
"I will continue to monitor this situation from the City Council, along with the coordinators of the teams that are working in the area," he said in a statement.
Brazil : A raging fire engulfed a 10-storey skyscraper
