In an alarming incident in downtown Guayaquil, Ecuador, part of a condominium adjacent to a commercial building caught fire collapsed early Wednesday, February 11th. The collapse occurred during firefighting efforts that had been underway for over ten hours, resulting in concerns among local residents and observers who watched the emergency unfold through live social media broadcasts. Prior to the structure’s collapse, a loud noise was reported, indicating the building was under significant stress due to the intense heat generated by the ongoing fire.

The Guayaquil Fire Department attributed the collapse to the high temperatures within the building. They warned that the structural risks in the area remained critical, leading them to maintain a safety perimeter and execute precautionary evacuations of nearby buildings to ensure the safety of residents. The fire's impact was visible from various parts of the city, with dense columns of smoke observable even from the National Unity Bridge, indicating the scale of the emergency.

This incident highlights not only the immediate dangers posed by the fire and the structural integrity of surrounding buildings, but also the heightened public interest in emergency situations as many citizens turned to social media for live updates. The unfolding events serve as a reminder of the importance of fire safety regulations and the potential risks in densely populated urban areas, especially during emergencies.