The short one
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On December 16, a 55-meter floating Christmas tree collapsed during a storm near Rio de Janeiro, killing a 21-year-old worker and injuring two others.
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The tree fell in Lagoa de Aracatiba in Marica and the incident was captured by a local photographer.
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Marica declared two days of mourning and suspended Christmas lights from December 17 to 19.
RIO DE JANEIRO – One person was killed on Monday, December 16, when a 180-foot floating Christmas tree collapsed during a storm near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to local officials.
Local photographer Adriano Marcal captured the incident when the screen fell into the coastal waters of Lagoa de Aracatiba in Marica, about 35 kilometers east of Rio de Janeiro.
People were then seen running to the spot to help the victims.
Marica Mayor Fabiano Horta said a 21-year-old worker died and two others suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Civil Defense officials issued a warning ahead of the storm, prompting a crew to assemble the tree to begin evacuations, but then the storm came suddenly and toppled the tree “within a few seconds,” Horta said.
According to local officials, two days of mourning have been declared, from December 17 to 19, during which the lighting of Christmas displays in Marica would be suspended.
