A fire broke out in a residential flat in the Barrier Gate area yesterday morning, resulting in a man and two women being rushed to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre – and the Fire Services Bureau (CB) noted in the afternoon that the cause of the fire was still unknown, and that the Judiciary Police (PJ) have been notified to conduct a follow-up investigation.
The incident occurred on the 15th floor of Fong Nam Building on Istmo de Ferreira do Amaral. Firefighters arrived at the scene and noticed flames in the flat’s living room, necessitating the use of fire hoses to extinguish the blaze. The three victims, aged 51 to 74, were taken to the hospital for treatment due to cardiac arrest, smoke inhalation, and emotional agitation. Two of the victims live in the affected unit, while the third victim lives elsewhere in the building, according to a CB statement.
About 10 dwellers self-evacuated.
According to the bureau, the doorway, wardrobe, and various items in the flat were burnt, with the walls of the living room blackened. However, there was no heat source or electricity supply near the fire point, the Fire Services Bureau pointed out in its statement, adding that “the cause of the fire remains unknown”.
Cardiac arrest victim dies
Meanwhile, according to a statement by the Judiciary Police early today, the 54-year-old male victim who suffered a cardiac arrest was pronounced dead at the public hospital after emergency efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful.
The autopsy report indicated, as noted by the statement, that the victim, who had been found lying face down outside the bathroom door, showed no signs of suspicious or potentially criminal injuries.
The Judiciary Police’s initial investigation noted that the fire apparently originated in the bedroom floor, where burnt items were found. The items have been removed for forensic examination, the statement added.
A Public Security Police (PSP) officer watches the area while firefighters battle a blaze in the flat of a residential building in the Barrier Gate area yesterday morning. – Photo courtesy of TDM
