4 killed in fire on Carnival parade float

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SANTOS, Brazil, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A fire started when a Carnival parade float touched an electrical cable killed four people early Tuesday in the Brazilian port of Santos, authorities said.

The parade was sponsored by a Samba club, Young Blood, O Globo reported. Three of the dead were men and one a woman.

The short circuit and fire knocked out electricity for about 6,000 homes in the neighborhood.

At least five people were seriously hurt.

The accident occurred shortly after 1 a.m. as the parade was reaching its end, O Globo said.

Many of those in the parade were supporters of the Santos Football Club, and the float where the deaths occurred honored Pele, Brazil's best-known soccer player, who spent much of his career with Santos. Antonio Wilson Vieira Honorio, better-known as Coutinho, who is generally regarded as second only to Pele in his ability, was present.

Coutinho called the deaths "sad."

"Unfortunately, people lose loved ones in an instant," he said.