03.06.2026 15:50
After a manhole cover in Rio de Janeiro flipped open, a woman fell several meters deep. It was determined that the suspects were trying to steal the cover. Following the scandal, the injured woman was taken to the hospital.
In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a 31-year-old woman on her way to work on Sunday morning fell into a sewer pit several meters deep after stepping on a manhole cover that rotated as she walked on the sidewalk. The blood-freezing moments were recorded second by second by a nearby security camera, and a full-fledged "public safety scandal" emerged after the incident. Investigations revealed that just hours before the accident, two suspects attempted to steal the heavy metal cover, dislodged it, and then fled, leaving it behind.
The incident occurred on Rua Oto de Alencar in Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã district, right in front of a school. Security camera footage shows the unnamed unfortunate woman dismounting a motorcycle and starting to walk on the sidewalk. Looking at her cell phone, she steps forward completely unaware that the manhole cover in front of her is loose.
Just as she steps on the cover, the metal block suddenly rotates to a vertical position, and the young woman is swallowed as if the ground had opened up. The motorcyclist who had dropped her off turns around, notices the horrifying scene, and immediately runs to help. With assistance from bystanders, the injured woman was pulled from the pit and taken to Andaraí Federal Hospital by emergency services. According to hospital officials, she sustained moderate injuries and bruises, but her life is not in danger.
Immediately after the terrible accident, local law enforcement reviewed security camera footage retroactively and uncovered the behind-the-scenes scandal. The day before the accident, around 2:00 AM, two men were seen spending minutes trying to pry the manhole cover loose in the same area. Authorities believe the suspects were attempting to steal the cover to sell it as scrap.
The footage shows that the thieves, who managed to dislodge the heavy metal cover, did not take it away for unknown reasons but did not properly replace it either. One suspect tried to close the cover with his foot, but because the locking mechanism was broken, the cover remained on the sidewalk like a "trap." Meanwhile, local media reported that a newsstand in the area was also robbed the same night, with cigarettes stolen. However, it is not yet clear whether the same individuals are responsible for both incidents.
In response to the widespread outcry on social media and in the Brazilian press, the Subprefeitura da Tijuca (Tijuca Sub-Prefecture) quickly issued a written statement, which read:
"As the Tijuca Sub-Prefecture, we have identified two manhole covers that were dislodged, likely due to a theft attempt. Our teams have been dispatched to the scene urgently. The damaged and hazardous equipment has been completely replaced with new ones, and locking systems have been reinforced by the maintenance management to ensure the safety of the street and pedestrians."
The increase in metal and cable thefts across Brazil in recent years has led to such fatal accidents. Experts emphasize that open manholes or improperly closed infrastructure systems in major cities pose a significant threat to public health, urging local governments to step up inspections.