Rio carnival begins after safety hiccup
Brazil's world-famous carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro has begun after a last-minute fire brigade inspection gave the event's main venue the all-clear.
State authorities had sought a court order to block access to the Sambadrome until firefighters had conducted safety checks and organisers signed a document assuming duty of care for the event.
Those requirements were met just hours before the country's tourism flagship was due to open. Half a million people are expected at the venue over the next five days.
Rio suffered two devastating fires recently that grabbed global headlines.
Last month, the unlicensed sleeping quarters of the Flamengo soccer team were destroyed, killing 10 of its most promising young players. Most were 14 years old. And last year, a fire gutted the city's National Museum, a cherished historical palace that lacked a sprinkler system.
Samba school parades and street parties started on Friday in Sao Paulo and other cities. Rio's top samba league will join performers at the Sambadrome on Sunday and Monday nights.
- With AP