Fire kills 10 people in inn that had an agreement with the city of Porto Alegre
In this report, g1 shows What is known and what remains to be known about the case:
Of the 10 people who died, five were identified. They are four men It is a woman.
The General Institute of Expertise (IGP) does not disclose the names of the victims because of the General Data Protection Law.
2. How many were injured
According to the Municipal Health Department (SMS), 15 people were injured. Until Friday night, six remained hospitalized – three in serious condition.
The other injured people were released after treatment at the Emergency Hospital (HPS) and the Cristo Redentor Hospital.
“They didn’t want to let me in, because the fire had already taken over, but I went in. I’m not going to let my wife die. I went in anyway and, thank God, I managed to catch her”, says the man.
“I don’t think my sister was able to get out. She lived upstairs. It was very quick, they shouted ‘fire!’ and the fire was two rooms next to mine,” she states.
‘I think my sister couldn’t get out’, says fire survivor
The fire occurred in one of the units at Pousada Garoa, on Avenida Farrapos, in the central region of Porto Alegre. The building is located between Barros Cassal and Garibaldi streets, a few meters from the Bus Station.
4. What caused the fire
The Civil Police are awaiting the conclusion of the investigation to determine the causes of the fire, which are still unknown. However, the investigation states that there is no evidence of criminal action.
“The experts will give us the cause of the fire, but we have no indication that anyone has set fire to the building at this point,” says police chief Cleber Lima.
5. What is the situation at the inn
The location, which is private, received people in situations of social vulnerability. Of the 30 people who were in the space at the time of the fire, 16 had their stay paid for by public coffers. The company had a renewed contract with Porto Alegre City Hall in December 2023 for another 12 months, at a cost of R$2.7 million.
“As for the PPCI, it is up to the company that provides the service to provide it and it is up to the firefighters to decide on this topic”, says Mayor Sebastião Melo (MDB).
The owner of the company that owns the inn, André Luis Kologeski da Silva, says that the fire was arson and that the property is regularized.
“Two important points: it was arson, they set fire. We have the required documentation. All regularized. We will be arranging for it to be sent to the city hall”, he stated.
6. What the police investigate
The Civil Police seeks to hear from the people who were there at the time of the fire, those responsible for the building and those who inspected the property.
7. What the authorities say
Porto Alegre City Hall ordered the opening of an investigation into the contract with Pousada Garoa, which has 22 other spaces operating in the Capital, serving 320 people. Mayor Sebastião Melo (MDB) announced a task force to visit these inns.
The Public Ministry opened a civil investigation to monitor and verify the measures adopted by Porto Alegre City Hall due to the fire. The MP will also deal with the referral of people who use the accommodation service resulting from the contract signed between the city hall and Pousada Garoa so that they are not deprived of the service and are also not vulnerable to the occurrence of new events.
The Public Defender’s Office inspected some of the locations and stated that the conditions of the properties were not adequate to accommodate people in vulnerable situations. The body foresees the adoption of legal measures, after determining the responsibilities of the inn owner and the city hall in the fire. The objective is to guarantee reparation for survivors and families of those who died.
