100,000 mourn Brazilian team victims

MORE than 100,000 heartbroken mourners turned out in pouring rain to pay their respects to members of Brazilian football team Chapecoense, who perished in a plane crash.

The tragedy claimed 19 of the team’s squad when their plane crashed in Medellin on Monday, as well as 52 other passengers.

An estimated 20,000 rain-soaked fans jammed inside the modest stadium, with four or five times that number outside to watch the cortege arrive.

Local supermarket worker Chaiane Lorenzetti, 19, who served many of the players said: “I’ve been here since early morning. I’ll never see some of my clients again. It’s a devastating day that will last forever.”

Ahead of the memorial, the bodies of the players arrived in Chapeco Airport.

The coffins were received by soldiers waiting in formation as soon as they landed on the tarmac.

President Michel Temer was among dignitaries at the airport, applauding as each coffin passed by.

Another mourner inside the stadium, Tatiana Bruno said: “They deserve a farewell of champions”.