At least 20 hurt as out-of-control float crashes into crowd at carnival parade

● Driver flees scene after rain-hit ‘chaos’ ● Sambadrome says ‘show must go on’

0 Members of the emergency services help some of the wounded after a float crashed into a fence that separated spectators from the parade A float crashed during Rio de Janeiro’s world famous Carnival parade and injured at least 20 people, including three reported to be in serious condition.

The incident involved the last float of the first samba school parading through Rio’s Sambadrome. The float of samba school Paraiso de Tuiuti crashed into a fence that separates the stands from the pavement, injuring spectators, revellers and journalists. One reporter had an exposed fracture.

Police began an investigation as soon as the float finished its transit through the Sambadrome. Police investigator William Lourenco Bezerra said the three drivers of the float would be questioned, adding that one already had been identified as the main focus of the investigation.

“The last float went into reverse and ended up pressing revellers against the fence on one side. That caused chaos. Then the drivers made a quick maneuver to the opposite direction and injured more people,” Mr Bezerra said.

“The main driver of the float mixed with the rest of the samba school and left. But he has already been identified and will be investigated.”

Rio’s state health secretary said in a statement that eight of the 20 people involved in the incident were in hospital and three women were in a serious condition.

The pavement of the Sambadrome was wet because of a persistent drizzle. Rain can make the big floats harder to guide.

The drizzle also created difficulties for firefighters as they moved a fence to remove two women drenched in blood.

Samba school Paraiso do Tuiuti said it “deeply regrets” the incident.

“Our board offers its deepest sentiments and is open to make any clarifications as soon as all the causes of the accident are investigated. We will offer all the assistance to the victims of this irreparable incident,” the samba school said.

Despite the accident, the head of the Rio parade, Elmo dos Santos, said that “the show must go on”.

“The rain made the car veer to the left. Organisers tried to adjust, but then they lost control. It is all regrettable, but we cannot stop,” Mr dos Santos said.

Paraiso do Tuiuti was the first of six samba schools parading in the night’s extravaganza at the Sambadrome, which was ran until yesterday morning. North Korea executed five senior security officials with anti-aircraft guns because they made false reports that “enraged” leader Kim Jong-un, South Korea’s spy agency said yesterday.

The comments by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in a private briefing to South Korean MPS come as Malaysia investigates the poisoning death of Kim’s estranged elder half brother, Kim Jongnam. That investigation is still going on, but South Korea says it believes Kim Jong-un ordered the assassination, which took place on 13 February at Kuala Lumpur’s airport.

The spy agency told MPS that five North Korean officials were executed by anti-aircraft guns because of the false reports to Kim, South Korean MP Lee Cheol Woo said. It’s not clear what false reports they allegedly made, and the NIS didn’t say how it got its information.

North Korea fired security chief Kim Won Hong in January, presumably over corruption, abuse of power and torture committed by his agency, Seoul said earlier this month. The fallen minister had been seen as close to Kim Jong-un. North Korea has not publicly said anything about Kim Won Hong or about the alleged executions in his department.