Huge blaze hits Rio carnival plans

A massive fire has destroyed the warehouses where Rio de Janeiro’s samba groups store the props and costumes for Brazil’s largest carnival parade.

The blaze at 14 warehouses near Rio’s port was being fought by 15 fire trucks and 70 men.

The president of the samba group alliance Jorge Castanheiro said the loss was tremendous, with many samba groups almosts ready for the March celebration.

Rio’s mayor vowed that all the groups will parade this year, and the “city of samba”, as the area is known, will be rebuilt this week.