Three construction workers were rescued after becoming trapped on a suspended scaffolding that was whipped violently by strong winds around a high-rise building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The incident occurred on July 29 at the Barra Bali condominium in the Barra da Tijuca district, where powerful wind gusts of more than 100km/h battered the city following the arrival of a cold front.
Dramatic footage filmed by a resident showed the suspended platform swinging uncontrollably between the seventh and eighth floors of the building, repeatedly crashing into the exterior wall as the workers struggled to hold on.
At one point, pieces of debris were seen falling from the scaffolding while the platform spun dangerously in the strong winds.
The workers eventually managed to escape when the platform swung close enough to a seventh-floor apartment balcony.
They grabbed onto the balcony railing, secured the scaffolding and climbed into the apartment, where they remained sheltered for about an hour until the weather conditions improved.
The three men were later able to leave the building safely using the internal lift. No injuries were reported.
The dramatic rescue came as severe weather caused widespread disruption across Rio de Janeiro, including power outages, fallen trees, public transport delays and the temporary closure of Santos Dumont Airport.
According to local authorities, two people were killed in the Santa Teresa district after a wall collapsed during the storm.
Rio’s City Hall placed the city under a Stage 2 weather alert, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel while strong winds and heavy rain affected the region.
The incident follows another fatal weather-related accident earlier this week in Surabaya, Indonesia, where a window cleaner died after a suspended gondola was repeatedly slammed into a high-rise building by powerful winds.
