A massive fire tore through the Pamplona Alta sector of San Juan de Miraflores on Saturday afternoon, engulfing a densely populated hillside community and leaving widespread devastation in its wake. The blaze, which began in an area filled with tightly packed, improvised homes, spread with alarming speed as strong winds and flammable construction materials fueled the flames.
Local residents reported seeing a column of thick black smoke rising above the district shortly after the fire began. Within minutes, the flames had jumped from one structure to another, consuming makeshift roofs, wooden walls, and electrical cables strung between houses. Many families fled with only what they could carry, some escaping barefoot or without documents as the fire advanced.
While firefighters from multiple stations rushed to the scene, the narrow and steep pathways characteristic of Pamplona Alta made access difficult, slowing early response efforts. Fire crews nevertheless managed to contain the blaze after several intense hours of work, preventing it from reaching additional housing clusters further up the hill.
Preliminary estimates from firefighters and local media suggest that several dozen to more than 100 homes may have been damaged or destroyed. Hundreds of residents have been left without shelter, forced to gather in nearby open spaces, sports fields, and community centers while authorities work to coordinate emergency support. Many stood watching their homes continue to smolder late into the evening, some breaking down in tears as they realized the full extent of their losses.
Officials noted that the severity of the fire was likely exacerbated by the presence of a clandestine pyrotechnics workshop hidden within the neighborhood. Videos recorded by residents captured small explosions and bursts of sparks as the fire reached the workshop, intensifying the blaze and sending debris flying. Investigators now believe that the site may be linked to the origin of the fire, though the exact cause remains under formal investigation.
Local authorities, including representatives from the municipality of San Juan de Miraflores and the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI), have begun surveying the affected area to assess structural damage and coordinate immediate aid. Emergency tents, food supplies, medical care, and psychological assistance are being mobilized for families who lost everything.
Residents told reporters that they had long expressed concern about the presence of illegal workshops and the risks posed by overcrowded housing conditions. Many hope the tragedy will prompt stronger enforcement and better urban planning support for vulnerable communities like Pamplona Alta, where thousands live in precarious structures built from wood, tin, and recycled materials.
As night fell, firefighters remained on site to extinguish hot spots and prevent any possible reignition. Meanwhile, displaced families gathered in small groups, trying to process the sudden loss of their homes and wondering how long it would take to rebuild their lives.
The fire stands as one of the most significant emergencies the district has faced in recent months, highlighting once again the precarious living conditions in Lima’s informal settlements — and the urgent need for safety measures, oversight, and long-term support.
The pain of losing an entire family caused commotion among the population of Sidrolândia, located in the interior of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, where
relatives, friends and residents paid their last respects to Drielle Leite Lopes and her three children, Helena, 10 years old, João Lúcio, 2, and José Augusto, just 3 months old.
A mother and three children were victims of a tragic accident that occurred on the BR-060. The scene at the wake, held at the city’s City Council, was marked by emotion, revolt and a deep state of shock among the family members.
The tragedy, which took the lives of four people from the same family, happened on Sunday night, between Sidrolândia and Campo Grande. The family had gone to visit Drielle’s mother to share the happy news of buying their own home, which they had made the previous week