A worker was killed and two others injured when a floating Christmas tree collapsed during a thunderstorm in Brazil on Monday. According to local officials.
The 184-foot-tall exhibit was installed in the coastal waters of Lagoa de Arractiva in Marica, a municipality in Rio de Janeiro. It was blown away by strong winds and collapsed near the shore. As the display fell apart, pieces were scattered into the water, with pieces floating around the lagoon.
As the tree fell, bystanders on the beach and other workers rushed to the nearest dock to help, but it was too late.
The tree, one of Marika's most popular tourist attractions, boasts an astonishing 360,000 lights and was scheduled to be lit at an official ceremony on December 18th.
Emergency crews were able to rescue two injured workers, but the third worker was pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital.
The murdered worker was a 21-year-old local, Marica Mayor Fabiano Horta wrote in an article. Post to X.
According to an official memo, the worker was later identified as Vinicius dos Santos Abreu. Marika City Hall.
Civil defense officials in Marika had issued warnings ahead of the impending storm. Workers assembling the tree began evacuating as soon as possible, but the storm came too quickly.
Orta said the tree fell in a matter of seconds.
The city will observe a two-day mourning period until Thursday. All Christmas illumination programs will also be canceled until Thursday, Orta said.
Police continue to investigate this tragedy.
