Brazil rock collapse death toll rises to 10
A wall of rock dislodged from a canyon wall and collapsed onto boaters
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}At least 10 people were killed and dozens more were injured when a massive slab of rock collapsed onto boaters at a lake in southeastern Brazil on Saturday, officials said.
The death toll rose from six to 10 on Sunday as investigators continued to parse through the damage and identify the deceased.
A tourist boat navigates through a canyon in Furnas Lake, near Capitolio City, Brazil, Sept. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Video of the tragedy shows dozens of people on multiple boats at Furnas Lake in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}COLD KILLS 22 STUCK IN CARS IN HEAVY SNOW AT PAKISTAN RESORT
In a matter of seconds, a massive slab of the rock dislodged and slammed into multiple boats as people nearby screamed.
Minas Gerais Gov. Romeu Zema wrote on Twitter that "heavy rains… caused the loosening of a wall of stones," leading to the tragedy.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Recent heavy rains in the area forced about 17,000 people from their homes.
A tourist boat navigates through a canyon in Furnas Lake, near Capitolio City, Brazil, Sept. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Pedro Aihara, a spokesman for the Minas Gerais Fire Department, told the Brazilian newspaper G1 that the wall of the canyon are vulnerable to the elements.
"We have a rock formation that is basically composed of sedimentary rocks, so these are rocks that naturally have a much lower resistance to the action of winds, water, and the natural elements that act on the region," Aihara told the newspaper.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tourist boats remain docked at a pier ot the Furnas reservoir after a massive slab of rock broke away from a cliff and toppled onto pleasure boaters on Saturday, killing at least 10 people near Capitolio city, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Igor do Vale)
Furnas Lake was created about six decades ago for the installation of a hydroelectric plant.
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Brazilian President Jair Bolsanaro called the incident a "disaster" on Twitter, saying that the Navy is working alongside the Fire Department and other agencies in rescue efforts.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}At least 32 people were injured in the incident.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.