07 February 2011

BRASIL: 08 Feb UPDATE: Fire In Rio's "Samba City" Destroys Many Carnaval Floats.

LINK CHANGE/ NYTIMES/ MORE DETAILS/

  An early morning fire in Samba City, near Rio’s port, destroyed floats and an estimated 8,400 costumes less than a month before 35 samba schools parade in the world famous Carnaval.
   Three of the12 samba schools selected for the famous Sambadromo competition on March 6 and 7 were seriously damaged by the fire: Uniao da Ilha, Portela and Acadêmicos do Grande Rio.
  Other samba schools said they would lend space, materials and professionals — whatever it took to see the rival schools through the competition
    Carnaval begins 4 March and attracts 700,000 tourists and visitors.
    Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, a samba group member, promised the city would help the groups recover and vowed that the Carnival parades would go on.
    "These people will put on a great Carnaval, and will show the energy and the optimism that Rio has," he said.
 TO SEE 1:54 ALJAZEERAENGLISH FIRE VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ1DfP0scqw&feature=player_embedded#