Rock’s fall kills 6
Huge stone hits boats in Brazil
A giant rock dislodged from a scenic canyon in southern Brazil, smashing into three boats, killing at least six people and leaving nine others seriously injured Saturday.
In the horrific scene, captured on video, boaters scream as they watched a large slab of rock fall from a canyon onto boats cruising a lake near Capitolio, a city in Minas Gerais state.
Two boats were hit directly, and officials said 24 people from those vessels were rescued. Twenty people are missing.
At least one person was in serious condition with head and facial injuries while others had broken bones, officials said.
Rovilson Teixeira, who has worked as a guide in the tourist area for the past six years, said he was stunned by the sight of the falling rocks.
“We are completely shocked, and nobody really knows how many victims are involved,” he told Brazilian reporters.
“There is not just one, not just two but probably many deaths. There are a lot of people with injuries. The region is full of ambulances that have come from other parts of the state to help the victims. No one is sure about the size of this tragedy.”
The Brazilian navy has opened an investigation into the accident.
The governor of Minas Gerais said in a statement that the accident was likely caused by heavy rains in the area that dislodged the rocks.
“We are suffering the pain of a tragedy in our state due to heavy rains that provoked the accident in the Furnas Lake. Rescue workers are still on the scene, ” said Gov. Romeu Zema. “We are in solidarity with the families at this difficult moment.”
Just hours before the accident authorities issued warnings for tourists to stay away from waterfalls in the area.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said, “We have to comfort the families who are waiting for bodies to show up.
This is something we can do with the navy and the fire department in Minas Gerais.”