Historical treasure trove at risk as fire blazes through Brazil’s 200-year-old National Museum
Rio de Janeiro — A massive fire raced through Brazil’s 200-year-old National Museum in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, probably destroying its collection of more than 20-million items, ranging from archeological finds to historical memorabilia. The destruction of the building, once a palace for emperors that had fallen into disrepair, is an "incalculable loss for Brazil", President Michel Temer said. "Two hundred years of work, research and knowledge were lost." There was no word of the possible cause late on Sunday, nor whether there were casualties or the exact extent of damage. Firefighters in Rio did not reply to requests for comment. Live television broadcast images of the fire, which began after the end of visiting hours at 5pm, burning out of control throughout the building late into the night. The museum, which is tied to the Rio de Janeiro federal university and the education ministry, was founded in 1818. It houses several landmark collections, including Egyptian artifacts and t...
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