(CNN) Ten young football players were killed and three others were hurt when a fire broke out at a training center of Brazilian football club Flamengo, authorities said.

Firefighters responded to reports of a blaze early Friday at the training center in Rio de Janeiro, where flames engulfed a dormitory where the players were sleeping.

An aerial view shows Flamengo's training complex where an early morning fire left 10 people dead.

Flamengo is one of Brazil's biggest and most popular clubs, playing their home matches in Rio de Janeiro.

Rio Gov. Wilson Witzel announced three days of mourning to remember the victims, state-run news agency Agencia Brasil reported.

The derby between Flamengo and bitter Rio rivals Fluminense -- one of the biggest matches on the Brazilian calendar -- was scheduled for Saturday at the Maracana stadium, but has now been postponed.

Read More</s>Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's second-largest city, awoke to scenes of chaos on Thursday after thrashing wind and rain whipped through neighborhoods, felling trees, flooding streets and sweeping away buses in a storm that killed at least five people.

Some of Rio's most iconic neighborhoods, including tourist hot-spots like Ipanema and Copacabana, were battered by winds of up to 110 kilometers per hour (68 mph) on Wednesday night, with precarious hillside favelas hit by mudslides that closed roads.

At least five people died, with one more person potentially killed in a bus that was hit by a mudslide, Rio's mayor, Marcelo Crivella, told local news media.

"It was a lot of water that ended up causing this tragedy," Crivella said. "It was unexpected."

The storm came just days after Rio experienced its hottest January in 97 years, with some days reaching as high as 42 degrees Celsius (107.6°F).

On Thursday morning, doormen swept up branches outside upscale apartment buildings, while street-cleaners fanned out across the city, trying to bring order to the post-apocalyptic scenes.

In Arpoador, on Ipanema's world-famous beach, a small sailboat was washed up on shore. The couple inside managed to escape when it ran ashore, local media reported.

During Wednesday night, many people had been stranded in restaurants and bars when the storm hit, watching with fear and incredulity as winds tore through the streets, flattening signs and blasting parasols.

TV images showed one man being swept away by a raging torrent of water that gushed through the Rocinha favela, while other reports displayed cars succumbing to the flow.

Crivella noted that Rio was not yet out of danger, with more rains due later on Thursday.

"They will be less intense rains, with less powerful winds," he said. "We ask that people stay in a safe location."</s>RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second-largest city, awoke to scenes of chaos on Thursday after thrashing wind and rain whipped through neighborhoods, felling trees, flooding streets and sweeping away buses in a storm that killed at least five people.

Some of Rio’s most iconic neighborhoods, including tourist hot-spots like Ipanema and Copacabana, were battered by winds of up to 110 kilometers per hour (68 mph) on Wednesday night, with precarious hillside favelas hit by mudslides that closed roads.

At least five people died, with one more person potentially killed in a bus that was hit by a mudslide, Rio’s mayor, Marcelo Crivella, told local news media.

“It was a lot of water that ended up causing this tragedy,” Crivella said. “It was unexpected.”

The storm came just days after Rio experienced its hottest January in 97 years, with some days reaching as high as 42 degrees Celsius (107.6°F).

On Thursday morning, doormen swept up branches outside upscale apartment buildings, while street-cleaners fanned out across the city, trying to bring order to the post-apocalyptic scenes.

In Arpoador, on Ipanema’s world-famous beach, a small sailboat was washed up on shore. The couple inside managed to escape when it ran ashore, local media reported.

During Wednesday night, many people had been stranded in restaurants and bars when the storm hit, watching with fear and incredulity as winds tore through the streets, flattening signs and blasting parasols.

TV images showed one man being swept away by a raging torrent of water that gushed through the Rocinha favela, while other reports displayed cars succumbing to the flow.

Crivella noted that Rio was not yet out of danger, with more rains due later on Thursday.

“They will be less intense rains, with less powerful winds,” he said. “We ask that people stay in a safe location.”</s>Firefighters say 10 people have died in a fire at a training complex for the football club Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro.

All of those killed were youth players for the team, one of Brazil's top clubs, according to local media.

The fire broke out in a dormitory at the Ninho de Urubu centre at shortly after 5am local time (7am GMT) and raged for more than two hours before it was extinguished, the G1 news portal reported.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Three people were also injured and were taken to a local hospital.</s>BRAZIL. – Ten people have died and at least three others have been injured after a fire broke out at the youth training ground of Brazilian football club Flamengo on Friday, according to state-run news agency Agencia Brazil.

The blaze engulfed a dormitory at the youth team center where the players were sleeping.

Flamengo are one of Brazil’s biggest and most popular clubs, playing their home matches in Rio de Janeiro.

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, who joined the club from Flamengo last year, said: “Just remembering the nights and days I spent at the training center, it gives me goosebumps.

“I still can’t believe it but praying for all. God bless everyone’s family.”

Flamengo posted that the club “is in mourning.”</s>Fans hold hands as they pray in a homage to the victims of a fire at the Flamengo soccer club training complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Picture: Leo Correa/AP

Fans hold hands as they pray in a homage to the victims of a fire at the Flamengo soccer club training complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Picture: Leo Correa/AP

FIRE has swept through an unlicensed lodging at the training centre of Rio de Janeiro soccer club Flamengo, killing 10 people, including several members of the club's youth team.

Six of those killed were reported to be youth players, and another three boys aged between 14 and 15 were injured in the blaze.

All three were taken to a hospital, one of them reportedly in serious condition.

The Rio de Janeiro mayor's office said the dormitory destroyed by the blaze on Friday 9 (local time) was built on land not registered for buildings and that the club had no permission to erect lodgings there.

"On the project protocol the area is described as a parking lot," the office said in a statement.

"There is no register of a new request for a licence to use the area as a dormitory."

Firefighters said they arrived at the Ninho do Urubu, a state-of-the-art training centre that was expanded and opened only two months ago, shortly after 5am local time and found the building engulfed in flames.

It was not known whether smoke alarms were installed in the building, which had a metal roof that appeared bent and charred by the blaze.

Some people had managed to escape the burning building, but the ferocity of the fire prevented firefighters from entering.

"We managed to rescue the victims that were outside," fire service Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Henaut told reporters.

"The place was completely overtaken by fire. As much as we tried to get inside and find people still alive that wasn't (possible) ... we only found bodies inside."

Flamengo president Rodolfo Landim called it "the biggest tragedy in Flamengo's 123-year history" but gave no details about the players involved.

One young player, however, told reporters the fire started in his room.

"The air conditioner caught fire, and I ran out," said Felipe Cardoso, a midfielder with the under-17 side.

"Thank God I managed to run and I'm still alive."

It is common for Brazilian clubs to host young players in dormitories while they are training with youth teams or at the club for trials, especially those from poor backgrounds or from outside the city.

However, many of the lodgings have a reputation for poor health and hygiene standards.

Flamengo, where World Cup players such as Zico, Junior and Leonardo got their start, is one of the best-supported clubs in Brazil and known around the world.

What a shock getting this news here on the other side of the world," Brazilian midfielder Zico wrote on Instagram.

"May the Red-and-Black nation have strength and faith to get through this moment."

Teams from around the world, including Rio rivals Botafogo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama, tweeted their solidarity and offered help that included psychologists and medical staff.

Officials postponed Saturday's two semi-finals of the Guanabara Cup. One of those games would have been between Flamengo and Fluminense at the Maracana stadium, which hosted the 2014 World Cup final.</s>Fire swept through a training facility for Brazil's most popular football club Flamengo.

Rio De Janeiro: Fire swept through a training facility for Brazil's most popular football club Flamengo on Friday, killing at least 10 people, news outlets said.

The pre-dawn blaze in Rio de Janeiro hit a building that housed youth-category players aged 14 to 17, TV Globo said. It broadcast aerial footage of the fire, which it said had been brought under control.</s>At least ten people are known to have died and at least three are seriously injured after a fire at the training centre of Brazilian side Flamengo.

Firefighters were called to the Ninho do Urubu training centre after the fire broke out at around 5:15am local time. The blaze was not extinguished for over two hours.

Globo Esporte reports that the fire was in 'accommodation for the Flamengo base categories', meaning the area which housed the club's youth players, aged between 14 and 17.

The fire reportedly broke out as players were sleeping in the dormitory. The cause of the fire is unknown, and the identities of the casualties have not yet been revealed. Those who were injured have been taken to a local hospital.

The training centre is situated in the Vargem Grande area of Rio de Janeiro, which has been among the hardest hit areas in a storm which has recently struck the city.

Power and water supplies were hit by the storm, meaning that the training centre was without light and water when the fire broke out.

Most areas of Flamengo's training centre have undergone recent renovations. The area in which the fire occurred was the only old area left, and was due to be shut down in the near future.

The fire did not spread to the neighbouring areas of the training centre in which Flamengo's senior players are housed.

All training sessions due to take place on Friday have been called off. It is expected that Flamengo's league match against Fluminense tomorrow will not go ahead, although there has not been any official word on this.

We will bring you more information as we get it.</s>Fire in Brazil kills at least 10 in Flamengo youth football facility

Rio de Janeiro: Fire swept through a training facility for Brazil´s most popular football club Flamengo Friday, killing at least 10 people, authorities said.



The pre-dawn blaze in Rio de Janeiro hit a building that housed youth-category players aged 14 to 17, firefighters said.

In addition to the deaths, three people were injured in the fire.

The cause was not immediately known.

Globo TV broadcast aerial footage of the fire, which it said had been brought under control after it burned for two hours.

The fire broke out at 5 am in the Vargem Grande district of Rio in a modern facility where the top-flight professional Flamengo squad also trains, the news website G1 said.

The dead were six players and four team staff, the channel Sportv said.

The main team had been due to practice at the same facility later in the morning.

Youth league teams also train at the facility, known as Ninho do Urubu.

Flamengo is the most popular club in football-crazed Brazil.

Distraught relatives rushed to the facility seeking information about loved ones, TV footage showed.

The training camp is in an area of western Rio that was hit by a huge storm Wednesday night. Six people were killed.

Because of those heavy rains the football facility remained without electricity or water Friday as the fire broke out, G1 reported.</s>RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Firefighters say 10 people have died in a fire at a training complex for Flamengo soccer team in Rio de Janeiro.
A fire at Flamengo sports club's youth training camp in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, leaves ten people dead and three injured.