The Multicentro building, located in the Bahía area of downtown Guayaquil, Ecuador, is currently engulfed in a fire that has been burning since early Wednesday morning. Firefighters have been battling the blaze for over 24 hours, employing aggressive tactics to combat the flames, which included breaking down doors and walls to reach the source of the fire. The situation remains critical, with firefighters operating primarily from the exterior due to the extreme heat conditions within the building.

As of Thursday morning, nearly 200 firefighters, equipped with 14 operational trucks, are on the scene working tirelessly to bring the fire under control. Fire Chief Martín Cucalón has mentioned that the building was reportedly filled with merchandise that had been brought in back in December, raising concerns about the potential fire hazards within the structure. With the continued efforts of the firefighting teams, they are also using ladder trucks to spray water directly onto the building to help contain the flames.

Once the fire is fully extinguished and deemed safe, authorities plan to proceed with the demolition of the damaged Multicentro building. This incident highlights concerns around building safety regulations and the management of commercial spaces in high-risk areas, particularly in light of the fire's rapid spread due to the flammable materials inside.