Rio De Janairo Fire Destroys Samba Warehouses Weeks Before Carnival
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}There were no initial reports of serious injuries or deaths, although some workers were in the warehouses when the fire started just before 7 a.m. (EFE)
A recovered carnival float sits in front of a burning warehouse as firefighters work to put out a fire in Samba City, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Feb. 7, 2011. A massive fire consumed the warehouses where Rio de Janeiro's samba groups store the props and costumes for Brazil's largest Carnival parade. No injured were reported. (AP2011)
People remove a Carnival float from a warehouse as firefighters try to extinguish a fire in Samba City, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP2011)
Firefighters work to put out a fire at warehouses in Samba City, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.The cause was being investigated. (AP2011)
People remove a Carnival float from a warehouse as firefighters try to extinguish a fire in Samba City, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP2011)
Even before the flames were out, it was clear that four of the four-story warehouses were extensively damaged, with two of them collapsing internally, according to firefighters. Ten warehouses were not affected by the flames. (AP2011)
Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, who plays in one samba group's percussion section, promised the city would help the groups recover and vowed that the Carnival parades would go on. (AP2011)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - MARCH 2: A samba school performs during the annual carnival parade March 2, 2003 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 14 samba schools are the main attraction of Rio de Janeiro's carnival, performing to approximately 70,000 spectators on a stadium built especially for it. Some critics argue that the festival has become too commercialized in recent years. (Photo by Andre Felipe/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - MARCH 2: A Brazilian samba school performs during the annual carnival parade March 2, 2003 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 14 samba schools are the main attraction of Rio de Janeiro's carnival, performing to approximately 70,000 spectators on a stadium built especially for it. Some critics argue that the festival has become too commercialized in recent years. (Photo by Andre Felipe/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Brazil. Carnival in Bahia. Salvador de Bahia. (Photo by Javier Teniente/Cover/Getty Images) (Cover/Getty Images)
Brazil. Carnival in Bahia. Salvador de Bahia. (Photo by Javier Teniente/Cover/Getty Images) (Cover/Getty Images)
Brazil. Carnival in Bahia. Salvador de Bahia. (Photo by Javier Teniente/Cover/Getty Images) (Cover/Getty Images)