Haiti in mourning, cancels carnival after accident kills dozens

Haiti was plunged into mourning and Carnival festivities were cancelled Tuesday after at least 16 people died when a high-voltage cable hit a parade float in the capital Port-au-Prince. Another 78 people were injured in the accident, which occurred shortly before 3:00 am as thousands watched, marring what is normally a joyful high point of the year in the impoverished Caribbean country. Seven people on the float were electrocuted, and others were trampled to death during the three-day event which coincides with many Mardi Gras carnivals internationally. Authorities cancelled the third and last day of the carnival celebrations on Tuesday and declared three days of mourning. National funerals were to take place on Saturday.

I saw the wire falling and sparks and I started running for my life.

Natacha Saint Fleur, a 22-year-old who witnessed the accident

Meanwhile, three men were killed in a similar accident in Rio de Janeiro. Police said they were electrocuted as they pushed a float towards a parade ground and it struck a power cable at Brazil’s main carnival. A sun on the float made of wire touched the power line and sent a fatal electrical charge through the metal frame of the decorated platform, police said. Authorities cancelled carnival festivities in the Nova Iguacu district after the accident.

Americas Carnival