Fire at Electric Motorbike Shop in Copacabana Injures Three, Snarls Traffic

Overview

• Flames broke out around 7:05 p.m. local time on Avenida Princesa Isabel near Rua Ministro Viveiro de Castro, initially closing the Botafogo-bound side.
• By 7:21 p.m., one lane reopened, and at 7:45 p.m. a brief reversible stretch was created between the returns at Rua Ministro Viveiros de Castro and Rua Barata Ribeiro to ease flow.
• Corpo de Bombeiros teams from Copacabana’s 17th GBM remained on scene with more than 30 personnel and nine vehicles, and they evacuated residents from the mixed-use building.
• Three people were hurt, with a fire department spokesman saying one was in critical condition and two suffered minor injuries.
• The shop sold and serviced electric motorcycles and bicycles, a smoke column was visible across Copacabana, detours were advised via Rua Figueiredo Magalhães and the Túnel Velho, and the cause was not reported.