A fire at the training centre of Brazilian football club Flamengo has left ten people dead and a further three injured.
The blaze broke out in an accommodation block at Ninho de Urubu, which houses a number of the club’s academy players, at around 5.10am local time on Friday.
Players aged between 14-17 were sleeping in the dorm at the time of the fire, which was finally extinguished by 7.23am.
Ten people have died, with a further three injured and taken to hospital, one of whom is reportedly in a serious condition.
Local media claim all 10 of the victims are young athletes, with one later identified as Christian Esmerio, a 15-year-old goalkeeper.
Pictures posted on social media showed the extent of the damage caused by the fire.
Lieutentant Colonel Douglas Henaut of the fire service said: “We managed to rescue the victims that were outside.
“The place was completely overtaken by fire. As much as we tried to get inside and find people still alive that wasn’t [possible] … We only found bodies inside.
“We can’t tell you the cause of the fire, that needs to be investigated.”
The cause of the fire remains undetermined, though Brazil newspaper O Globo report the building did not have the correct permits.
Felipe Cardoso, an Under-17 midfielder, claimed the fire started in his room.
“The air conditioner caught fire, and I ran out,” he said. “Thank God I managed to run and I’m still alive.”
The Ninho de Urubu centre was expanded as part of a £4.8million development last year, with the club putting work in on their training complex. Ninho de Urubu translates to ‘Vulture’s Nest’ and is so named as the club’s symbol is a vulture.
There are pitches, an aquatic park, a medial centre, a mini stadium and accommodation areas on the site.
Flamengo are one of Brazil’s biggest clubs with their home ground, the Maracanã Stadium, one of the most iconic in world football.
The club shared the following social media post to confirm they are in mourning, before Rodolfo Landim, the president, called the incident ‘the biggest tragedy the club has ever experienced in the 123 years of its existence.’
Landim said: “I was so far involved in emergency actions and the distribution of some important tasks, but now I’ve been able to get out of these tasks and come to you and we’re all dismayed.
“This is certainly the biggest tragedy the club has ever experienced in its 123 years of existence with the loss of these people.
“We want to try to minimise the suffering of these families. Be sure that Flamengo will spare no effort to minimise this pain.
“The club is collaborating with the authorities so that the causes of the fire can be cleared.
“No one but us has full interest for this to happen. Everyone in the club is in mourning.”
Gilberto Silva, the former Arsenal and Brazil midfielder, joined talkSPORT to discuss the heartbreaking incident.
“It is very, very sad,” he said. “It’s quite normal for clubs in Brazil to have these hotel homes for their youth players, and this tragedy is something very unexpected.
“My condolences to all of them and their families, and everyone help Flamengo in this very sad moment.”
Some of the country’s most famous footballers have played for Flamengo, including Zico, Leonardo, Romario and Ronaldinho.