Brazil: fire reaches a state school in Belo Horizonte, and over 30 people are taken to the hospital

On Wednesday 22, the Institute of Education of Minas Gerais (IEMG) caught in a fire around 9:40 am.

The flames started in a classroom of the institution located in the capital, Belo Horizonte.

The building was evacuated, and about 36 people were taken to João XXIII Hospital for medical treatment because of smoke inhalation.

As of the publication of this report, no fatalities or serious injuries have been identified.

The State Education Secretariat said, “an investigation to identify the causes of the fire will be carried out by the Civil Police, and the structural damage will be measured”.

The fire was brought under control, but classes were suspended indefinitely for the recovery of the victims.

“The Secretary of Education of Minas Gerais (SEE/MG) informs that the state Fire Department immediately controlled the situation.”

All students and employees were safely evacuated from the building.

No one was seriously injured, but some students inhaled smoke and were immediately attended to by SAMU teams and are receiving assistance from the State Department of Education team,” the institution said in a statement.

IEMG is one of the city’s most traditional schools and has existed for over a hundred years.

About 2,000 students and approximately 270 employees attend the building.

With information from Jovem Pan