A 21-year-old man, Vinicius dos Santos Abreu, tragically lost his life when a 184-foot floating Christmas tree toppled in Maricá, Brazil, on December 16, 2024. Severe weather, including heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds, swept through the region, leading to the collapse.
Captured on video by local photographer Adriano Marcal, the horrifying moment unfolded as storms suddenly intensified. The tree, floating on water, succumbed to the elements, injuring two others in the incident.
In response, Maricá Mayor Fabiano Horta announced two days of mourning starting Tuesday. The city also postponed the tree lighting ceremony to Thursday in honor of the victim.
This tragedy has cast a somber shadow over the holiday season in Maricá, raising concerns about safety measures during severe weather conditions.