Brazilian cultural landmark re-opens after fire

The Latin America Memorial, one of the most emblematic sites in Brazil’s largest city, reopened its doors to the public on Tuesday after a fire last week that destroyed an auditorium at the political, cultural and leisure complex.

The Pavilion to Creativity and the Library, among other sites within the complex designed by late Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, resumed functioning relatively normally.

The central plaza, known as the Civic Square, on Tuesday was the scene of a musical show.

Sao Paulo state authorities authorized the resumption of activities in other locations that were not affected by last Friday’s blaze, which injured 16 people and affected valuable works of art.

Authorities are also investigating the procedure followed to contain the fire. Four firefighters remain in serious condition after inhaling toxic smoke and it is suspected that the operation was carried out without the proper technical skill.

The Memorial Foundation decided to ask the Institute of Technological Investigation to evaluate the auditorium’s structure, which was 90 percent affected by the fire, and to determine whether it can be repaired or will have to be demolished and replaced.