(ATR) An overhead cable camera in Rio’s Olympic Park snapped and crashed to the ground Monday afternoon, injuring seven people, according to Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS).
The incident happened around 2:45 p.m. near Carioca Arena 2. The camera landed by the base of the Puerto Rico flagpole.
The cable camera belongs to OBS, the host broadcaster of the Games. The accident did not impact scheduled Olympic events.
OBS Director of Information Matt Mason tells Around the Rings that a full investigation has been launched.
He revealed that at 1:30 p,m. the pulling rope on the cable camera was reported down and OBS sent a unit to investigate the problem.
"A determination was made to clear the area and start recovering the pulling rope," Mason said in a statement. "At that time the camera was at the height of 10 meters above the concourse, supported by the two independent guide ropes, each one of which could carry the full load of the camera. Immediately OBS requested a cherry picker to arrive at the area to access the camera. A few minutes later, both ropes simultaneously broke. This resulted in the camera falling from a height of 20 meters onto a lower concourse. Rio 2016 Security and National Forces mobilized immediately and provided assistance."
OBS says that, accordingto local medical authorities, there were seven people who were treated for minor injuries.
Members of Government Security, police, fire department and the Rio 2016 organizing committee attended the scene and fenced-off the area for an investigation.
Witness Flavio Oliviera said he left the handball arena and was heading in the direction of the outdoor food court when he spotted the camera and cables falling.
"We were looking to the food court and that’s what we saw, it was three meters ahead of us," Oliviera told ATR.
Oliveria said he saw two women injured: one struck in the neck and the other on a hand.
"Quickly someone came over and took them to the nursing station. She was crying, I think it’s due to the shock," Oliveria said.
The cause of the incident is under investigation. It happened on what had been the hottest day of the Games, at more than 30 degrees Celsius. The conditions turned overcast with gusty winds while the investigation continued.
Written by Bob Mackin and Brian Pinelliin Rio de Janeiro
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