In Brazil, a large fire has destroyed Samba City, a part of Rio de Janeiro where costumes and floats for the city's famed carnival are being made. The disaster occurred just about a month before this year's carnival was set to begin. A large plume of smoke was seen over the Sambadrome where the annual carnival parade takes place. According to local media reports, the fire erupted well before shop employees were due at work, and no victims have been reported so far. President of the League of Samba Schools, Jorge Castanheria said everything was practically ready for the carnival. He said he was not certain workers would be able to rebuild everything that was lost before the popular event. An estimated 500,000 to 700,000 foreign tourists, many of them fleeing snowy winter conditions in Europe and the United States, attended the festivities last year.