Bloody accident mars joyful start of Rio carnival

PanARMENIAN.Net - A huge float carried by a truck at the Rio de Janeiro samba parade struck several people, causing serious injuries to at least one woman, late Sunday, February 26, AFP reports.

The accident, which coincided with heavy drizzle, marred the start of the all-night samba dance-off at the Sambodromo stadium.

The truck appeared to drive too close to a fence at the start of the competition piste, footage on Brazilian television showed, and several people were hit.

One woman, a photographer, had a leg badly crushed.

Despite the rain, however, the packed Sambodromo erupted in cheers as the annual contest opened in a deafening barrage of fireworks.

Brazilians living through two years of steep recession and 12 percent unemployment have grasped this year's carnival as a chance to let off steam. In Rio especially, the thrill of hosting the Olympics six months ago has given way to the grim reality of rising crime and near bankruptcy of the state government.

So when the drummers of Paraiso do Tuiuti -- the first of six samba schools competing through the night to Monday morning -- began beating rhythm, the crowd roared.

Samba queens dressed in sequined micro-costumes and vast feathered headdresses danced at dizzying speed. Behind them came an army of drummers and costumed dancers, interspersed by wildly over-the-top floats.

Each school picks a theme for its parade and is judged according to strict criteria. Another six schools were to parade on Monday night, with the champion being announced on Wednesday, the start of Lent in mostly Roman Catholic Brazil.