Minas Gerais fire office Brazil said six people died after a large rock fell on three sightseeing boat on Lake Furnas.
Meanwhile, Brazilian state media Agência Brasil said around 32 people were injured, 20 people were missing, and 9 people were taken to a nearby hospital.
Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema said the incident occurred because of heavy rains that flushed the area so that a rock fell off a cliff and fell on a tourist boat.
“I stand in solidarity with the family at this difficult time. We will continue to act to provide the necessary protection and support,” Zema said via his personal Twitter account as quoted by CNN, Sunday (9/1).
Earlier, a video posted on social media showed tourists on another ship screaming for passengers to leave the ship before the rock fell.
The commander of the Minas Gerais Fire Department, Colonel Edgard Estevo, said the search for missing victims would continue. However, the divers will stop the search at night for safety reasons.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro added that the Navy was deploying a team of troops to join the search and rescue effort.
(mrh/bir)
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