Rio Carnival 2017: Twelve Injured as Float Collapses in Sambadrome

Twelve people were injured when a float collapsed in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome, the venue where the samba schools hold their annual carnival parade.

On February 28, a walkway on top of the float on which dancers were standing toppled, sending them tumbling.

The incident came a day after twenty people were injured at the Sambadrome when a float crushed them against a fence.

Police are investigating both incidents.

Image source Wikimedia

The float represented Bourbon Street in New Orleans and members of the samba school were dancing on walkways made to look like balconies when the upper walkway gave way.

The parade was halted for 25 minutes as the emergency services took the injured to hospital.

The float belonged to Unidos da Tijuca samba school.

The school’s director, Aiton Freitas, said he did not know what had gone wrong.

Aiton Freitas said the float had been tested three times a week with more weight than it was carrying during the parade.

He told journalists: “We are even more shocked than you all are.

“I don’t know what is happening, but Rio’s Carnival is not being blessed this year.”