Costume factory fire trapped 21 workers - the Rio Carnival preparations severely affected
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A large fire tore through a factory in Rio de Janeiro that produces costumes for the city’s world-famous Carnival, leaving 10 workers hospitalized and raising concerns about the festival’s preparations. The fire started early Wednesday morning and caused significant damage to the facility, threatening the participation of multiple samba schools in the upcoming celebrations.
Fire breaks out, traps 21 workers
According to authorities, the fire started while workers were asleep inside the Maximus factory, a key supplier of costumes for lower-division samba schools. Thick smoke and fast-spreading flames made escape difficult, with several workers struggling to find a way out. Nearby residents, hearing desperate cries for help, alerted emergency services.
Around 90 firefighters were sent to fight the fire and to rescue 21 trapped workers. Many were stranded on the top floor. Firefighters needed to cut through steel windows and use ladders to evacuate them safely.
Emergency responders confirmed that eight victims remain in serious condition after inhaling toxic smoke, while two others are in stable condition. Authorities have since sealed off the factory and an adjacent building, warning that structural collapse is a possibility due to extensive fire damage.
Carnival preparations in jeopardy
The Maximus factory plays a vital role in Rio’s Carnival, providing costumes for several samba schools. The fire has had a severe impact on the festival’s production chain, jeopardizing the participation of multiple groups, including the renowned Imperio Serrano school.
LigaRJ, the association representing samba schools in the lower divisions, released a statement on Instagram detailing the extent of the losses. Imperio Serrano reportedly lost 97% of its costumes, while Unidos de Bangu and Unidos da Ponte suffered a 60% loss of their materials and designs. The organization emphasized that the fire had "significantly compromised the parade materials" for the affected schools.
With the festival just weeks away, Carnival organizers have called an emergency meeting to assess the damage and determine a recovery plan. Schools are now scrambling to replace lost materials and costumes in time for the parades.
Investigation into Working Conditions
In the wake of the fire, Rio’s Labor Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the working conditions at the factory. Reports suggest that some workers, including teenagers, were sleeping on-site, raising serious concerns about unsafe labor practices and potential exploitation.
This incident has drawn comparisons to a 2011 fire that destroyed a warehouse complex housing months of work by Rio’s top 12 samba schools. The latest disaster has reignited debates about safety regulations and labour conditions in the lead-up to Carnival.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License
Rio Carnival 2011
By Terry George
Date: 7 March 2011, 16:35
Source: Rio de Janeiro: Carnival 2011 2F5A5826
Author: Terry George from United States
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