Nine people have died after the roof of a cave collapsed and caught them inside, the local fire brigade reports Twitter.
The accident happened when a group of 26 civilian firefighters participated in a training mission in a cave near Altinópolis, 300 km north of São Paulo.
– The roof of the cave has collapsed and trapped inside a part of the group, the police in São Paulo inform.
Difficult rescue work
Large resources participated in the rescue operation, but heavy rain and the danger of new collapses make the work challenging.
Several people were missing for a long time. At around 19:00 local time, the fire brigade announced that everyone had been taken out.
It is difficult to reach the remote cave.
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Some were immediately rescued and transported to hospital with fractures and severe chills. Everyone must have been discharged from the hospital with the exception of one who is hospitalized in the emergency department.
14 people escaped the accident and got out.
– The entrance collapses
The mother of one of those who participated in the training assignment told that the group had planned to be in the cave overnight.
– What happened is that the entrance to the city they were on collapsed. I am desperate, she said according to GloboNews.
Altinópolis is known for its caves, which attract many tourists to the city every quarter of a year.
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