Workers hang from windows to escape Ecuador office blaze
- 12 years ago
A fire rages at this office building in Ecuador's coastal city of Guayaquil.
At least two people died in the blaze, and those unable to escape lean out windows in an effort to distance themselves from the smoke and flames.
As firefighters scramble to rescue the office workers, they aim water hoses through the windows to cool them off.
One official describes how two of the workers were killed.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MARTIN CUCALON, GUAYAQUIL FIRE CHIEF, SAYING:
"One person jumped from the fourth floor, apparently from the scare, before we arrived....and the other person died from asphyxiation on the fourth floor which is where the police are working to recover the body."
At least 96 people were treated by emergency medical workers on the scene - but most of the 300 workers weren't in the building during the lunchtime disaster.
The cause of the blaze had not yet been officially determined.
Travis Brecher, Reuters
At least two people died in the blaze, and those unable to escape lean out windows in an effort to distance themselves from the smoke and flames.
As firefighters scramble to rescue the office workers, they aim water hoses through the windows to cool them off.
One official describes how two of the workers were killed.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MARTIN CUCALON, GUAYAQUIL FIRE CHIEF, SAYING:
"One person jumped from the fourth floor, apparently from the scare, before we arrived....and the other person died from asphyxiation on the fourth floor which is where the police are working to recover the body."
At least 96 people were treated by emergency medical workers on the scene - but most of the 300 workers weren't in the building during the lunchtime disaster.
The cause of the blaze had not yet been officially determined.
Travis Brecher, Reuters