[caption id="attachment_62066" align="alignright" width="300"] Revelers of Vila Isabel samba school perform during the second night of Carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 12, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ANTONIO SCORZAANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images[/caption]Brazil's Carnival Marred by 4 Deaths

What is traditionally a happy time of joyous celebration in Brazil turned deadly this year when four people participating in Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro were killed when a float caught fire.

Officials report that three of the fatalities were individuals who had been pushing the Pele Float down the street after its participation in a parade and the fourth fatality was a female spectator.

An additional five people suffered injuries in the fast-moving fire but the status of their condition is not yet known.

Several eyewitnesses came forward to say that they saw the float hit overhead power lines before bursting into flame.

The area of Santos where the tragedy occurred also lost electrical power, causing confusion when darkness enveloped both the street as well as nearby homes.

Although parade festivities were scheduled to continue for another 96 hours, the city's Mayor suspended further activities out of respect for those killed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XdDaQsotIms
On The Web:

4 Killed on Carnival Float in Brazil: 'Pele' Float Catches Fire (PHOTO, VIDEO)
http://www.christianpost.com/news/4-killed-on-carnival-float-in-brazil-pele-float-catches-fire-photo-video-89936/