Three electrocuted in Brazil when Carnival float hits line on Rio's outskirts

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/17/three-electrocuted-brazil-carnival-rio

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Three Brazilian revelers died after being electrocuted early on Tuesday while standing atop a Carnival float that hit a power line, officials said.

In an emailed statement, the Light power company confirmed the deaths that happened during a Carnival celebration in Nova Iguacu, a city of 800,000 people on the northern outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.

Related: At least 20 dead after power line falls on Haiti carnival float

Firefighters said at least one other person was taken to hospital and three others were aided on the scene. None appear to have life-threatening injuries. Police are investigating the incident.

A similar accident took place early Tuesday in Haiti, where a Carnival float hit an electric line and shocked a man atop the vehicle, setting off a panicked stampede that apparently killed at least 20 people.

During Brazil’s 2011 Carnival, 16 people were killed at a packed street party in Minas Gerais state when a power line fell atop the crowd.