Post by : Shakul

A major fire broke out on 24 February 2026 at the site of the monumental statue of Our Lady of Fátima that was being constructed in the Pajuçara neighbourhood in the northern zone of Natal, Brazil. The blaze rapidly engulfed the large structure before firefighters could contain the flames.

The statue, designed to stand approximately 35 metres tall on an 8-metre base, was part of a religious and tourism project estimated to cost around 15 million reais. It was nearing completion when the fire erupted.

Officials believe the fire started due to a short circuit in a welding machine being used by workers, setting alight highly flammable materials such as polystyrene and resin used in the statue’s construction. Fire crews from the Natal Fire Department deployed about 20 firefighters and used thousands of litres of water to bring the blaze under control.

One construction worker sustained minor burns to the hand and was treated on site; no other serious injuries were reported. While only the head and crown portion of the statue had yet to be installed and survived the fire, the rest of the structure was largely destroyed.

The artist responsible for the sculpture, Ranilson Viana, has stated that he will take responsibility for rebuilding the statue without additional cost to the municipality, and work is expected to resume once conditions allow. According to officials, the restoration could take up to seven months with improved safety measures in place.

Local authorities and the Archdiocese of Natal have expressed solidarity with the community and reaffirmed their commitment to completing the statue, which was envisioned as a major religious landmark and centre of devotion for many faithful.

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