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Enormous fireplace rips by means of iconic sporting stadium as roof engulfed in flames

The fireplace prompted a serious emergency response involving round 80 firefighters and 20 automobiles.

The blaze tore by means of the roof of the Velodrome in Rio de Janeiro (Picture: AP)

A blaze erupted on Wednesday morning at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Olympic Park velodrome, triggering a considerable emergency response involving roughly 80 firefighters and 20 automobiles, in line with authorities.

The state’s army fireplace brigade confirmed the fireplace had been introduced beneath management and was largely restricted to the venue’s material roof. No accidents have been reported and the inside of the constructing, together with the Olympic Museum, remained unaffected.

Eduardo Cavaliere, the town’s mayor, informed reporters {that a} small portion of the town’s Olympic museum, housed inside the velodrome, had been impacted however not severely.

He stated: “The Velodrome and the Olympic Museum have been barely affected by the fireplace. It stays intact and well-preserved.

“Clearly, it should have to be cleaned and bear some type of upkeep earlier than we are able to announce that the Velodrome is again in operation.

“The construction of the Velodrome itself is preserved and the observe has not been hit in any respect.”

Whereas the reason for this newest incident stays beneath investigation, the power has a troubling historical past of roof fires. Two comparable blazes came about in 2017, each attributed to falling paper sky lanterns.

The venue hosted observe biking in 2016 and its museum accommodates artefacts from the Video games (Picture: Copyright 2026 The Related Press. All rights reserved)

Since serving because the venue for observe biking in the course of the Olympics in 2016, the Velodrome has functioned as a principal coaching base for Brazil’s nationwide biking and weightlifting squads.

The sector was constructed specifically for the Video games and stays a distinguished characteristic of the previous Olympic Park.

It boasts a capability of round 5,000 spectators and a 250-metre biking observe licensed for competitors.

The museum inside the Velodrome homes historic artefacts from the Video games, together with the Olympic torch and medals.

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Groups labored to safe these artefacts within the aftermath of the blaze, in line with native authorities.

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