Floor Collapses at Brazilian Birthday Party, Dozens Fall Into Basement Injuring 11

A 15th birthday celebration in Belém, northern Brazil, turned into a disaster when the floor of a historic mansion suddenly collapsed beneath about 230 guests. The incident occurred on Sunday during Ana Beatriz's party, which had been planned for two years and cost approximately 40,000 Brazilian reais (around 7,800 USD). Moments before the collapse, Ana was seated surrounded by hundreds of candles as guests watched. Without warning, the floor gave way, causing dozens of attendees to fall into the basement below.

At least 11 people were injured and taken to hospitals, suffering from fractures, cuts, and bleeding. One injured guest, Marilia Freire, described the traumatic moment and her injuries. Ana herself fell but was unharmed. Ana's mother fainted upon seeing the injured guests. The mansion, a historic building partly supported by stilts, was closed after the collapse. Authorities are awaiting an engineering assessment to determine the cause of the floor failure.

Local officials are monitoring the situation and assisting the victims, while the venue's owners have pledged cooperation with authorities. However, the civil police have not yet launched an official investigation. In a show of support, family and friends organized an impromptu street celebration for Ana the day after the accident, with applause and songs to give her a semblance of a proper birthday.

The family is demanding that the venue owners cover the event costs and help the injured. The tragedy has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a joyful milestone, highlighting concerns about the safety of historic structures used for large gatherings.