Car Fire Plunges São Gonçalo Hospital into 5-Hour Blackout

A car fire near the Hospital Estadual Alberto Torres in São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, caused a major power outage on the night of May 29, 2025, leaving the hospital and surrounding neighborhood without electricity for at least five hours. According to a report by g1, the incident began around 9:40 p.m. when a car caught fire near a supermarket and a car dealership on Avenida José Lopes Raposo in the Colubandê neighborhood. The flames quickly spread to nearby electrical wires, causing a widespread power outage. "The firefighters were called around 9:40 p.m.," a reporter stated in the g1 video. The power company was notified, and electricity was not fully restored until approximately 3:00 a.m. on May 30. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The incident highlights the vulnerability of essential services to unforeseen circumstances and underscores the importance of rapid emergency response and reliable power infrastructure.