Boulder falls from cliff onto tourist boats – at least seven dead
Furnas Reservoir is a tourist attraction in the state of Minas Gerais. A boulder fell on several boats on Saturday
Source: AP / Andre Penner
At a reservoir in Brazil, a large boulder detached itself from a cliff and fell on tourist boats. At least seven people died, 20 are still missing. The fire brigade suspects that heavy rainfall contributed to the accident.
E.A falling rock face has buried dozens of tourists on a lake in southeastern Brazil. Rocks weighing tons at the popular Furnas reservoir fell on three boats with tourists. At least six people died and 32 were injured, as the fire department in the state of Minas Gervais announced on Saturday.
At first, the authorities reported six dead and spoke of 20 missing. The number of missing persons was estimated on the basis of “testimony, tourism operators and relatives,” said the fire brigade.
A dramatic footage shared on online networks showed the moment the rock loosened and fell onto the three boats. Passengers on other boats panicked.
Number of missing persons only estimated
Other videos showed how people shortly before the disaster warned others about falling stones and asked the occupants of the boats to move away from the rock face.
A photo of the fire brigade in Minas Gerais after the tragic accident
Source: AFP / HANDOUT
Nine of the injured were hospitalized, as the fire department announced, which was on site with a diving unit. For security reasons, the search should be interrupted during the night and continued the next day.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro praised the work of the forces, especially the naval force, on twitter. This would have reacted immediately and saved human lives.
The canyon with Furnas Lake near the city of Capitolio City in an aerial photo (archive)
Source: AP / Andre Penner
“We are experiencing a tragedy in our state today, triggered by the heavy rains that detached a rock face on Lake Furnas in Capitólio,” wrote the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, on twitter.
In the state, like in neighboring Bahia, it had rained heavily recently. The Brazilian Navy, which also participated in the rescue operation, announced that it would initiate an investigation to determine the causes of the accident. However, according to the fire brigade, the heavy rains favored the accident.
This handout picture released by Minas Gerais Fire Department shows firefighters during a rescue operation after a wall of rock broke from a cliff falling onto several tourist boat…s, leaving at least five people dead and another 20 still missing, at the canyons of Furnas Lake, city of Capitolio, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, on January 8, 2022. (Photo by Handout / Minas Gerais Fire Department / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / MINAS GERAIS FIRE DEPARTMENT” – NO MARKETING – NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Source: AFP / HANDOUT
Lake Furnas, around 300 kilometers from Belo Horizonte, is a tourist magnet because of its bright green water and its spectacular rock faces. It is also known as the “Sea of Minas”.