200 year old National Museum of Rio de Janerio (in Brazil) was reduced to ashes by a massive fire this Sunday. The National Museum was considered as one of the most important museums in Latin America.
The fire tore through the museum leading to an irretrievable loss of over 20 million historical artefacts including disfigurement of the world’s oldest human fossil, Luzia, that found in Brazil.
$5 million aid planned, but not disbursed
Realising the extent of the loss, Roberto Leher, rector of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro said that, it was known that the age old Museum building was vulnerable to fire. It also needed immediate and extensive repairs. He further added that the institution recently secured approval of almost $5 million towards its renovation, including an upgrade of the fire-prevention system. Sadly, the fire gutted the museum before the amount could be disbursed.
90% of museum items damaged
In the meanwhile, as the local authorities begin probe at the incident to figure out ways to undo the damage. The officials of the museum fear that 90% of the artefacts are damaged beyond repair. Almost 90% of what was kept in the the 200-year-old natural history museum may have been destroyed for good.
Firefighters initially struggled to contain the massive break out. Trucks were used to fetch water from nearby lake. The government officials have already started playing the blame game. People of Brazil, now have to wait and watch before their culture and heritage is reinstated.