Fire at the Portuguese Language Museum

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has learned with great sorrow of the fire that broke out at the Portuguese Language Museum in São Paulo, and of the death of firefighter Ronald Pereira da Cruz in the efforts to put down the fire.

The Portuguese Language Museum constituted, since its opening, a uniquely important and innovative institution for the appreciation and dissemination of the language. An historical and architectural landmark of São Paulo, it reinvented museum language with its multidisciplinary approach and enlivened great public interest for the singularities of the Portuguese Language. It has been playing a relevant role not only for a better understanding of the richness and diversity of our language, but also for the appreciation of the cultural affinity between the several Portuguese speaking Nations. It rightfully projected itself in the international scenario, attracting a growing number of visitors of several origins. It has become a source of pride to Brazil and of special esteem to the member States of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its solidarity to the family of firefighter Ronald Pereira da Cruz and hopes for the prompt recovery of the Museum, an important and esteemed cultural facility, which had already been consolidated as common heritage of all Portuguese-speaking countries.