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CAPITOLIO, Brazil — At least seven people died and nine were seriously injured when a wall of rock collapsed onto pleasure boats below a waterfall in southeastern Brazil on Saturday, first responders confirmed.
Edgard Estevo, commander of the Minas Gerais State Fire Department, said at a news conference that in addition to the dead as many as 20 people might be missing and officials were seeking to identify them, CNBC reported.
According to the network, the towering slab of rock broke from a cliff on Furnas Lake.
Reuters confirmed late Saturday that at least three people remained unaccounted for and that search efforts were suspended for the night.
Videos posted on social media showed tourists shouting as the column of rock crashed into the water, smashing two boats, the news outlet reported.
Officials confirmed to CNBC that at least 32 people were injured in the incident but most had been released from hospitals by Saturday evening.