A massive fire erupted Saturday afternoon in the Pamplona Alta area of San Juan de Miraflores, Lima, sweeping through a tightly packed cluster of mostly improvised homes. Within minutes, the flames had engulfed large sections of the neighborhood, forcing residents to flee as smoke and heat intensified. Emergency crews rushed to contain the blaze, and although firefighters managed to confine it, the scale of destruction remains severe. Early estimates suggest that dozens—and possibly more than 100—houses were damaged or destroyed, leaving hundreds of families without shelter and in urgent need of assistance.

According to firefighters, the rapid spread was fueled by the use of highly flammable construction materials common in the area, as well as the close proximity of the homes. Authorities also believe the fire may have ignited or reached a clandestine fireworks workshop, causing small explosions seen in videos shared by residents. Investigators are now focusing on that site as they work to determine the official cause of the disaster.