Christmas Tree Structure Collapses in Strong Winds
1 Worker Dead, 2 Injured
"We Will Do Our Best to Support the Bereaved Family"
A 56-meter-tall Christmas tree-shaped structure installed on a coast in Brazil collapsed due to strong winds, resulting in one death.
A 56-meter-tall Christmas tree-shaped structure installed on a beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. X (formerly Twitter)
On the 18th (local time), British Sky News and others reported that on the 16th, a Christmas tree-shaped structure installed along the Lagoa de Aratiba coast in Maric? City, Rio de Janeiro, collapsed due to strong winds. As a result, debris from the structure scattered everywhere and floated on the water. There were also casualties. Three workers who were managing and installing the structure were injured. They were taken to a nearby hospital, but one of them eventually died. The other two injured are reported to be in stable condition.
The deceased was identified as 21-year-old male Vinicius dos Santos Abreu. There had been a forecast for strong winds in the area that day, but the winds arrived earlier than expected, causing the structure to collapse. Netizens who learned of the incident expressed condolences for the young worker who passed away. The local government also announced a two-day mourning period and stated that all Christmas lighting events would be suspended during this time.
A 56-meter-tall Christmas tree-shaped structure installed on a beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. X (formerly Twitter)
After the incident, a video showing the situation at the time of the accident was uploaded on local social media (SNS). The video captured the Christmas tree structure swaying as if bending in the strong wind before toppling into the water within seconds. The workers managing and installing the structure appeared to move hurriedly in confusion. The floating structure was decorated with 360,000 lights and was scheduled to be lit officially on the 18th. However, the lighting event was temporarily suspended due to the accident.
A Maric? official expressed, "We deeply regret the tragedy in which one person died and two were injured when the Christmas tree structure being assembled recently at Aratiba Lagoon collapsed." They added, "Maric? is investigating the cause and circumstances of the accident and will do its best to support the bereaved families."
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