La Plata Warehouse Fire Sparks Collapse and Evacuations, No Injuries

A fire that broke out shortly after 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday engulfed an appliance-store warehouse at the corner of Diagonal 77 and 48 in downtown La Plata, Buenos Aires Province. Flames quickly spread through the three-storey building, which housed large quantities of plastic and other flammable materials, triggering explosions that were heard across the neighborhood. Part of the facade collapsed as the blaze intensified, prompting emergency crews to evacuate residents from nearby buildings. Municipal officials said three to four fire brigades battled the flames while police cordoned off streets and cut electricity across a five-block radius for safety. At least three parked cars were damaged, but no injuries have been reported. Firefighters continued to douse hot spots into the afternoon, and authorities opened an investigation into the cause of the blaze. Traffic restrictions and power outages were expected to remain in place until the building is declared structurally safe.