In the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ten people, including five children, died when a car went off the road in a rural area of the Barra Mansa community and fell into a lake. Among the deceased may have been a newborn girl, reports AFP.
The accident occurred early Sunday morning, November 8. A passerby noticed the submerged vehicle and reported the incident to emergency services.
"At the time of recovery from the car, all the people present were already deceased," states the announcement from the government of the state of Rio de Janeiro.
According to official data, five adults and five children were killed. Firefighters, with the help of two divers, recovered the bodies from the submerged vehicle. The identities of the deceased have not yet been officially confirmed.
As reported by the Brazilian portal G1, citing a relative, all the victims were members of the same family. Some local media mention that among the victims was a newborn girl, although this information has not been officially confirmed yet.
The authorities have characterized the incident as a tragic accident. The police are investigating the circumstances of the accident.
The day before, heavy rains fell in the region, causing flooding of streets, including in tourist areas of Rio de Janeiro such as Copacabana. Authorities have not yet indicated whether weather conditions may have contributed to the accident.
