A terrible fire devastated the Rio National Museum. The fire has devoured millions of artifacts in Quinta da Boa Vista, in São Cristóvão, in the north of the city
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himA terrible fire devastated the Rio National Museum yesterday. The fire has devoured millions of artifacts in Quinta da Boa Vista, in São Cristóvão, in the north of the city.
The fire started last night at 19.30 pm local time but the museum continues to burn today. A very serious loss. The museum just this year had turned 200 years old.
Once the residence of a king and two emperors, it housed a rich collection of Greek and Roman fossils, mummies, historical documents and works of art, now reduced to ashes. About 20 million objects were destroyed by the flames.
The cause of the fire. Fortunately, there are no injuries. Only the 4 guards were present on the spot but they managed to get to safety. The local police have opened an investigation but will transfer the case to the federal one, which deals with the environment and cultural heritage. The latter will have the task of determining whether it was an arson attack.
The attempts of the firefighters to contain the fire were of little use, fearing that it would reach the part of the museum containing flammable chemicals and used in the preservation of some rare artifacts.
According to commander Roberto Robadey Costa Junior, it was even necessary to take water from the nearby lake to control the flames.
For the director of the National Historical Museum, Paulo Knauss, if tratta of a tragedy: “The museum was the residence of the royal family and the headquarters of the 1st Constituent Assembly of Brazil. Inside there are delicate and flammable parts. A fairytale library. The museum is not only important for the history of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil but it is fundamental for the history of the world. Our country needs a policy that defends our museums ”.
Despite its historical significance, the National Museum was also hit by the financial crisis that also affected the University and worked on a low budget for three years.
Among the most serious losses, also that of Lucia, the oldest human fossil discovered in Brazil and dating back to 12.000 years ago. Luzia was a woman who died at the age of 20-25, whose remains were found in 1974 in Lagoa Santa. According to the reconstructions, she was one of the first inhabitants of Brazil. Her remains, her skull and a reconstitution of her face, were displayed in the windows of the now destroyed museum.
Luiz Duarte, Deputy Director of the Museum, he said: “It is an unbearable catastrophe. This is 200 years of the heritage of this country. That's 200 years of memory. That's 200 years of science. They are 200 years of culture, of education ”.
The loss of the National Museum's collection is incalculable for Brazil. 200 years of work, research and knowledge were lost. The value to our history cannot be measured, due to the damage to the building that housed the royal family during the Empire. It's a sad day for all Brazilians
– Michel Temer (@MichelTemer) September 3, 2018
An immense cultural heritage unfortunately lost forever.
Francesca Mancuso
Photo cove: AFP/Thiago Ribeiro/AGIF
