REMAINING SHACKS ON EDGE OF CLIFF TOP; FALL OF ROCKS; WRECKED HOUSES, FALLING ROCKS AND RESCUE TEAM; INHABITANTS; RESCUE WORK; ROCKS; CLOTHING; POLICE, FIREMAN AND SPECTATORS.




Initials EH/VS/GT/SIM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A LANDSLIDE BRINGING DOWN HUNDREDS OF TONS OF ROCK SWEPT THE "SHANTY TOWN OF MANY LOVES" FROM ITS QUARRY SITE NEAR RIO DE JANEIRO'S CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION IN THE EARLY HOURS OF MONDAY MORNING, KILLING - IT IS FEARED - AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE. A FIRST CHECK SHOWED THAT 10 BODIES HAD BEEN RECOVERED AND THAT 73 PEOPLE WERE MISSING; RESCUE WORKERS EVACUATED 85 FAMILIES ON THE QUARRY EDGE.

SOME 20 SHACKS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE VANISHED IN THE DISASTER.

A 15-TON BOULDER BEGAN THE FATEFUL SLIDE DOWN THE SLOPE. THEN, RUMBLING LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE, THE SLIDE CARRIED EARTH, DEBRIS, HOMES AND SCREAMING PEOPLE BEFORE IT.

MANY FAMILIES WERE STILL ASLEEP OR AT BREAKFAST WHEN THE SLIDE ENGULFED THEM. SURVIVORS, STILL SEARCHING THE RUINS ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, TOLD HARROWING STORIES OF THE SUDDEN DISASTER.

FIREMEN AND RESCUERS WORKED AGAINST TIME WHILE NEW ROCK FALLS THREATENED FROM ABOVE.

STATE SECURITY HEADQUARTERS HAVE ORDERED A FULL INQUIRY INTO THE TRAGEDY.