A fire erupted at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Park's velodrome in the early hours of April 8, causing significant damage to the roof before firefighters managed to bring it under control. Officials confirmed there were no injuries and no risk of the blaze spreading to other areas of the complex.
Approximately 80 firefighters and 20 fire trucks responded to the incident, according to a statement from the state's military fire department. The velodrome, constructed for the 2016 Summer Olympics and currently managed by the city government, also houses the Olympic Museum. The museum displays various historical artifacts from the Games, including the Olympic torch and medals.
This is not the first time the velodrome has faced fire damage; its roof was also affected by two separate fires in 2017, though those incidents resulted in only minor harm.