RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The spectacular Carnival parade of Rio's top samba troupes was marred by the injury of 20 people who where pushed against a wall by a faulty float at the start of the famed Sambadrome show, organizers said on Monday. The massive three-ton float of the Paraiso de Tuiuti samba group carrying costumed dancers on platforms veered out of control as it turned into the parade ground at the start of event on Sunday night. As its handlers tried to straighten the float it swung into a group of spectators. Organizers said 20 people where hurt and eight were taken to hospital, three of them with serious injuries. Environmental concerns and cultural preservation themes predominated in the floats and costumes of the samba schools that paraded before 200,000 paying Sambadrome spectators through the early hours of Monday.

Source: The Star February 27, 2017 17:26 UTC