Ten die as fire breaks at Flamengo football club in Rio de Janeiro

A fire at Flamengo football club’s training ground in Rio de Janeiro has killed ten youth players and injured at least three others, according to media reports in Brazil.

The fire happened shortly after 5 am at the Urubu’s Nest youth team training center in the capital, with one accommodation block completely destroyed by the blaze.

None of the victims has been formally identified yet, but players aged between 14 and 17 are believed to have used the dormitory at the training complex. The Brazilian TV channel Globo said all ten killed were members of the youth side.

All ten victims are said by local media to be young athletes. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Flamengo is one of Brazil's biggest and best-known clubs internationally.

The three people injured in the blaze were taken to hospital for treatment, according to firefighters.

The fire began shortly after 5 am local and was extinguished just over two-and-a-half hours later around 6.30am, according to Globo.

Flamengo, one of Brazil’s most popular clubs, plays in the country’s top league – Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A.

Some of Flamengo's most prominent former players include World Cup winners Ronaldinho, Bebeto and Romario.

As well as being one of Brazil's most successful football clubs, Flamengo also has basketball, rowing, swimming and volleyball teams.