Fatal Brazil Fire Caused by Energy Spike: Flamengo CEO

A friend reacts as he attends the funeral service for soccer player Vinicius de Barros Silva Freitas after a deadly fire at Flamengo soccer club's training center, in Volta Redonda, Brazil February 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil—The fire that killed 10 young footballers at Flamengo’s training ground in Rio de Janeiro was caused by a spike of electricity that led to a fire in an air conditioning unit, the club’s CEO Reinaldo Belotti said on Saturday, Feb. 9.

The fire started in the early hours of Friday morning, a day after a devastating storm struck Rio and killed at least six people.