Wall of Rocks Collapse in Brazil

10 Tourists Killed, 32 Injured

Cliff Wall collapse on tourist boats in Furnas Lake, Brazil.

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Cliff Wall collapse on tourist boats in Furnas Lake, Brazil.

Emma Larios, Staff Writer

Brazil is known for its breathtaking monuments and natural beauty. Millions of tourists make their way through Brazil’s natural landscapes as an antidote to stress.

Unfortunately, a slab of rock collapsed at popular tourist destination, Furnas Lake in Minas Gerais, Brazil, killed 10 tourists who were boating near the area and injured 32 others. Investigators believe that a fissure in the cliff caused the rock collapse. It is also believed the fissure is a result of centuries of erosion, heavy rains and local flooding. The accident occurred about 260 miles north of Sao Paolo, between the towns of Sao Jose da Barra and Capitolio.

Joana Sánchez, geology professor at the Federal University of Goiás, said that authorities should have been controlling the site to prevent accidents, especially in the rainy season. The boats should have been kept at least one kilometer (0.6 miles) away from the waterfall where the accident happened, she said.

Furnas Lake, created in 1958 for the installation of a hydroelectric plant, draws an estimated 30,000 visitors during the holidays.