Death Toll Brazil Rock Collapse Rises To 10

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

CAPITOLIO (Worthy News) – The death toll of a massive canyon rock falling onto pleasure boaters visiting a waterfall in southeastern Brazil has risen to 10, police confirmed Sunday.

At least 32 people were injured, though most were released from hospitals by Saturday evening, authorities said.

Saturday’s tragedy, of which shocking video circulated on social media, occurred between the towns of Sao Jose da Barra and Capitolio, from which the boats had left.

Firefighters and divers recovered three more bodies from the lake on Sunday, raising the death toll to 10, police said.

Authorities on Sunday were working to identify the dead, an effort that will continue for an indeterminate amount of time.

“We’re not worried at all if it takes days, and if it is necessary, we’ll keep working more,” regional Police Chief Marcos Pimenta told reporters.

The state of Minas Gerais, a landlocked area in southeastern Brazil, has been under heavy rainfall for two weeks, which could have loosened the rock face, investigators said.

On Saturday, a dike overflowed at an iron ore mine 300 kilometers (186 miles) to the east, cutting off a major federal highway.

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