O Consulate General of Italy in São PauloThe building on Avenida Paulista was evacuated this Thursday morning (11) after smoke formed in the building. Employees and users left the building, and services for the day were cancelled.
According to preliminary information obtained by Italianismo, the smoke originated from a generator. The cause has not yet been officially confirmed by the consulate at the time of publication of this note.
Images taken at the scene show dense smoke billowing from the top of the facade, next to the flags of Italy and the European Union, while pedestrians walked along the sidewalk of the avenue.
The consulate has not released a timeline for resuming services or provided guidance for those who had appointments scheduled for this Thursday.
Updated at 15:30 am
According to preliminary information obtained by Italianismo, the fire is believed to have started underground, in a chamber of Enel's underground power grid. The cause has not yet been officially confirmed by the consulate or the utility company at the time of publication of this note.
Avenida Paulista is served by the so-called grid network, an underground power distribution system operated by Enel in the central region of São Paulo. Episodes of smoke and explosions in the manhole covers of this system, popularly known as energy manholes, have been recorded in the capital in previous years.
