IN with AFP –
Dramatic collapse in Brazil. The fall of a cliff on boats sailing in a very touristy lake in the state of Minas Gerais, in the south-east of the country, left at least seven dead and three missing on Saturday, firefighters said. “At this point there are seven dead and three missing”, said in a report the spokesman of the firefighters of Minas Gerais, Pedro Aihara. The death toll was subsequently brought to at least ten dead.
At midday, a large fragment of rock broke away from its wall and fell on three boats sailing on Furnas Lake, a site popular for its green waters and spectacular parade of rock walls. Images shared on social media show the rock mass breaking off and falling on all three boats, causing panic among passengers watching the scene on other boats.
President Jair Bolsonaro shared some of these videos on social media, praising the work of the Brazilian Navy which, “as soon as the unfortunate catastrophe occurred”, traveled to the site and worked to “rescue the victims and transport the wounded”. Among them, nine were hospitalized, according to the firefighters who intervened on the spot with various equipment and a brigade of divers. The search was to stop at night, for security reasons, and resume this Sunday.