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Carnival in Rio: riots in the crowd
Photo: Bruna Prado / dpa
According to the authorities, several people died in the early hours of the morning in the metropolitan area of the Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro.
At around 11 p.m. on Sunday, a parade by the »Bloco das Piranhas« carnival group was broken up, according to the municipality of Magé, which is northeast of downtown Rio.
A "possible altercation" ensued, in which a police officer was also involved.
It said there were dead and injured.
More detailed information was not initially available.
The carnival celebrations in Magé have been suspended for the time being.
The newspaper "O Globo" reported at least four deaths in the riots, including a child.
At least 19 other people were injured, it said.
Videos of the riots circulated on social media.
The Rio Carnival is known as the »biggest party in the world«.
The big street parties known as blocos have always been a parallel carnival to the strictly regulated parades in the city center's sambodrome, where a jury awards marks.
After two years of Corona, the carnival in Rio will take place again this year for the first time without restrictions.
In 2021 he was completely absent.
In 2022 the parades were moved from February to April, blocos did not take place.
This year again more than five million visitors were expected at around 400 parties.
The hotels in the metropolis expected 95 percent occupancy for the carnival weekend.
Deaths from floods and landslides
While the parades for the inauguration of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, who was voted out last year, were politically charged, this year many samba schools are returning to their roots.
They chose themes related to the founding figures of Afro-Brazilian culture.
However, the celebrations were overshadowed by severe flooding in the state of São Paulo, southwest of Rio: in São Sebastião, which is popular with carnival holidaymakers, at least 35 people died as a result of flooding and landslides as a result of torrential rain.
According to civil protection, significantly more victims are to be expected.
ala/dpa
