Incêndio destrói o Museu Nacional no Rio de Janeiro

Um incêndio de grandes proporções destruiu o Museu Nacional, na Quinta da Boa Vista, em São Cristóvão, Zona Norte do Rio.

O fogo começou por volta das 19h30 deste domingo (2) e foi controlado no fim da madrugada desta segunda-feira (3). Mas pequenos focos de fogo seguiam queimando partes das instalações da instituição que completou 200 anos em 2018 e já foi residência de um rei e dois imperadores.

A maior parte do acervo, de cerca de 20 milhões de itens, foi totalmente destruída. Fósseis, múmias, registros históricos e obras de arte viraram cinzas. Pedaços de documentos queimados foram parar em vários bairros da cidade.

Segundo a assessoria de imprensa do museu e o Corpo de Bombeiros, não há feridos. Apenas quatro vigilantes estavam no local, mas eles conseguiram sair a tempo.

As causas do fogo, que começou após o fechamento para a visitantes, serão investigadas. A Polícia Civil abriu inquérito e repassará o caso para que seja conduzido pela Delegacia de Repressão a Crimes de Meio Ambiente e Patrimônio Histórico, da Polícia Federal, que irá apurar se o incêndio foi criminoso ou não.

Foto mostra a tentativa de conter o incêndio no Museu Nacional no Rio de Janeiro — Foto: Reuters/Ricardo Moraes

Falta d'água atrapalhou bombeiros

Pesquisadores e funcionários do Museu Nacional se reuniram com o Corpo de Bombeiros para tentar auxiliar no combate das chamas. O objetivo era orientar o trabalho dos bombeiros numa tentativa de impedir que o fogo chegasse a uma parte do museu que contém produtos químicos. Alguns deles são inflamáveis e usados na conservação de animais raros.

Bombeiros precisaram pedir caminhões-pipa para auxiliar no combate ao incêndio. Segundo o comandante-geral, coronel Roberto Robadey Costa Junior, a falta de carga em hidrantes atrasou o trabalho em cerca de 40 minutos. Foi necessário retirar água do lago que fica na Quinta da Boa Vista para ajudar no controle das chamas.

O palácio já foi residência da família real brasileira e abriga o Museu Nacional, que é a instituição científica mais antiga do Brasil — Foto: Reuters/Ricardo Moraes

Grande parte do Museu Nacional destruída pelas chamas — Foto: Reprodução/TV Globo

Foto mostra a tentativa de conter o incêndio no Museu Nacional no Rio de Janeiro — Foto: Reuters/Ricardo Moraes

Bombeiros tentam controlar incêndio que atinge o Museu Nacional, na Quinta da Boa Vista

'Tragédia', diz diretor

O diretor do Museu Histórico Nacional, Paulo Knauss, considerou o incêndio "uma tragédia". À GloboNews, Paulo lembrou que o museu foi residência da família real e sede da 1ª Assembleia Constituinte do Brasil.

"É uma tragédia lamentável. Em seu interior há peças delicadas e inflamáveis. Uma biblioteca fabulosa. O acervo do museu não é para a história do Rio de Janeiro ou do Brasil. É fundamental para a história mundial. Nosso país está carente de uma política que defenda os nossos museus", afirmou Paulo Knauss.

Fogo destrói o Museu Nacional, na Quinta da Boa Vista — Foto: Reprodução/TV Globo

Falta de verba e reforma

Apesar de sua importância histórica, o Museu Nacional também foi afetado pela crise financeira da UFRJ e está há pelo menos três anos funcionando com orçamento reduzido, segundo reportagem de maio do Bom Dia Brasil de maio deste ano.

A situação chegou ao ponto de o museu anunciar uma "vaquinha virtual" para arrecadar recursos junto ao público.para reabrir a sala mais importante do acervo, onde fica a instalação do dinossauro Dino Prata. A meta era chegar a R$ 100 mil.

Incêndio atinge o Museu Nacional, no Rio de Janeiro

Imagem aérea de incêndio no Museu Nacional do Rio — Foto: Reprodução/ TV Globo

Morador de São Cristóvão filmou o início do incêndio

Veja a localização do Museu Nacional, Zona Norte do Rio — Foto: Infográfico: Karina Almeida/G1

Dois séculos de história

O Museu Nacional é uma instituição autônoma, integrante do Fórum de Ciência e Cultura da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro e vinculada ao Ministério da Educação. Como museu universitário, vinculado à Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), tem perfil acadêmico e científico.

O museu contém um acervo histórico desde a época do Brasil Império. Destacam-se em exposição:

o mais antigo fóssil humano já encontrado no país, batizada de "Luzia", pode ser apreciado na coleção de Antropologia Biológica, entre outros;

a coleção egípcia, que começou a ser adquirida pelo imperador Dom Pedro I;

a coleção de arte e artefatos greco-romanos da Imperatriz Teresa Cristina;

as coleções de Paleontologia que incluem o Maxakalisaurus topai, dinossauro proveniente de Minas Gerais.

O Museu Nacional foi enredo da Imperatriz Leopoldinense no carnaval de 2018 (veja fotos).

Chamas destruíram um dos mais importantes acervos históricos e científicos do Brasil

Vista aérea do Museu Nacional, antes do incêndio — Foto: Reprodução/ Museu Nacional

Repercussão

O presidente Michel Temer enviou nota sobre o incêndio: "Incalculável para o Brasil a perda do acervo do Museu Nacional. Hoje é um dia trágico para a museologia de nosso país. Foram perdidos duzentos anos de trabalho, pesquisa e conhecimento. O valor para nossa história não se pode mensurar, pelos danos ao prédio que abrigou a família real durante o Império. É um dia triste para todos brasileiros".

Em nota, o Ministério da Educação lamentou "o trágico incêndio ocorrido neste domingo no Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, criado por Dom João VI e que completa 200 anos neste ano. O MEC não medirá esforços para auxiliar a UFRJ no que for necessário para a recuperação desse nosso patrimônio histórico", diz o comunicado.

A Fundação Roberto Marinho lamentou profundamente a destruição de um dos maiores acervos arqueológicos, etnográficos, científicos e culturais do país. "É uma tragédia e uma perda irreparável hoje e para as futuras gerações. Perde o patrimônio histórico e cultural, perde a ciência, perde a educação, perde o Brasil, perde o mundo", diz em nota.

O governador Luiz Fernando Pezão também se pronunciou: "É um dia de profunda tristeza para todos nós brasileiros. Difícil expressar tamanha perda de construção e acervo de valores inestimáveis. Perdemos uma referência do país. Perdem o patrimônio histórico mundial, a cultura, a ciência, a educação. Perdem os brasileiros e o mundo. Manifesto a minha solidariedade aos funcionários do museu".

O prefeito Marcelo Crivella se manifestou por uma rede social: "Trágico incidente que destruiu um palácio marcante da nossa história. É um dever nacional reconstruí-lo das cinzas, recompor cada detalhe eternizado em pinturas e fotos e ainda que não seja o original continuará a ser para sempre a lembrança da família imperial que nos deu a independência, o império, a primeira constituição e a unidade nacional".

O ministro da Cultura, Sérgio Sá Leitão, disse à GloboNews que um contrato de revitalização do Museu Nacional foi assinado em junho, mas não houve tempo para que o projeto pudesse acontecer, e a "tragédia" fosse evitada. Segundo ele, houve "negligência" em períodos anteriores.

De acordo com a assessoria de imprensa da UFRJ, o reitor Roberto Leher, diretores e diversos especialistas do Museu Nacional foram à Quinta da Boa Vista acompanhar o trabalho de combate ao incêndio. Ao G1, a assessoria afirmou que os especialistas estão auxiliando os bombeiros a identificar a localização dos diversos itens do acervo do museu, e vários itens do acervo foram retirados. A assessoria do reitor afirmou que ele está acompanhando os trabalhos e, por isso, ainda não poderia se pronunciar.

O Museu Nacional, que integra a estrutura acadêmica da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, foi criado por D. João VI, em 1818. Ele fica situado no palácio onde vivia a Família Imperial do Brasil e é a instituição cientifica mais antiga do país e uma d — Foto: G1/Alexandre Durão</s>RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Anger smouldered in Brazil on Monday after a fire destroyed the National Museum, a cherished historical repository that lacked a sprinkler system and which had suffered years of financial neglect, making its destruction a “tragedy foretold.”

Outside the entrance to the elegant park housing the 200-year-old former Imperial Palace, police in riot gear shot tear gas into a small, angry crowd that tried to enter, live TV images showed. Later, police granted access to the site’s perimeter, which protesters surrounded in a symbolic “embrace.”

The rumbling tensions reflect anger over the destruction on Sunday of the much-loved yet dilapidated museum, which suffered from declining federal funding. It stirred emotions in Brazil, whose angry electorate is reeling from a frail economy, widespread graft and rising violence ahead of an unpredictable presidential election in October.

“Our community is very mobilized, and very indignant,” said Roberto Leher, rector of the Rio de Janeiro federal university, which administers the museum. “We all knew the building was vulnerable.”

Brazil’s culture minister Sergio Leitao told the Estado de S.Paulo newspaper the blaze was likely caused by either an electrical short-circuit or a homemade paper hot-air balloon that may have landed on the roof. Launching such balloons is a long-held tradition in Brazil and they routinely cause fires.

Both possibilities were being considered, Culture Ministry spokeswoman Roberta de Oliveira Ribeiro said in an email, but the cause would not be known until an investigation was completed. The Rio de Janeiro federal university did not immediately respond to a question on whether the museum was insured.The museum’s pastel-yellow facade remained standing after the blaze, but a peek inside its giant windows revealed a roofless interior of blackened hallways and charred beams. Every so often, firemen emerged with a pot or a painting they had managed to rescue.

The museum’s vice director, Luiz Duarte, told Globo TV the institution had been neglected by successive federal governments. He said a 21.6 million-real ($5.23 million) financing plan with the state-run development bank BNDES announced in June included, ironically, a plan to install modern fire protection equipment.

The Rio fire department’s commander, Roberto Robadey, said the hydrants outside the building were dry when firefighters arrived, forcing them to turn to a nearby lake and tanker trucks for water.

“Yesterday was one of the saddest days of my career,” he said.

People protest in front of the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil September 3, 2018. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

FRAGILE CULTURE

The museum is not the first to burn down in Brazil, where public money for cultural projects has been drying up after a deep recession. In 2015, for example, a blaze destroyed the prestigious Museum of the Portuguese Language in Sao Paulo.

In 2016, President Michel Temer was forced to reinstate the Culture Ministry after an outcry from some of the country’s top artists over his policy to fold it into the Education Ministry to save money.

On Monday, his office said he had met with representatives from major Brazilian companies and banks to look into ways to help rebuild the museum “as soon as possible.”

Education Minister Rossieli Soares told reporters outside the burned-out building on Monday that the federal government would spend an initial 15 million reais, in two separate instalments, to restore the structure and rebuild its collection. He added that Brazil would seek international help, and was already in discussions with UNESCO.

The museum’s decline did not happen overnight, said Renato Rodriguez Cabral, a teacher in the geology and palaeontology department.

“This was a tragedy foretold,” Cabral said, hugging distraught students and coworkers who poured into the site on Monday. “Successive governments would not provide funds, they would not invest in infrastructure.”

Between 2013 and 2017, the National Museum in Rio’s federal funding fell about a third, to 643,567 reais, according to official budget data. The funding cuts were particularly acute this year, with the museum receiving just 98,115 reais between January and August.

Late last year,, after a termite attack shuttered a room hosting the bones of the Maxakalisaurus dinosaur, the National Museum was forced to turn to a crowdfunding site to seek funds for reopening the exhibit.

It raised nearly 60,000 reais, almost double its goal.

The National Museum’s collection ranged from archaeological finds to historical memorabilia.

Slideshow (19 Images)

The museum, which is tied to the Rio de Janeiro federal university and the education ministry, was founded in 1818 and housed several landmark collections, including Egyptian artefacts and the oldest human fossil found in Brazil.

The destruction of the building, where emperors once lived, was an “incalculable loss for Brazil,” Temer said in a statement.

His office did not respond to requests for comment on widespread allegations of neglect.</s>RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - A 200-year-old museum in Rio de Janeiro is being engulfed by flames.

Firefighters were working late Sunday to put out a large blaze at the esteemed National Museum in northern Rio. It wasn't immediately clear how the fire began.

News portal G1, citing the museum, reported that nobody was injured and the fire began after the museum had closed for the day. An email sent to the museum late Sunday was not immediately returned.

People watch as flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Sgt. Moises Torres from the state's firefighting headquarters said there was no immediate information about injuries.

According to the museum's website, it has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries, and is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Firefighters work to douse the flames at the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (AP Photo/Leo Correa)</s>A fire devoured on Sunday the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, which houses some 20 million artifacts dating from the Brazilian imperial era and celebrates its 200-year anniversary this year.

The flames broke out around 19.30 local time (22.30 GMT), when the museum was already closed and there were only four guards inside. However, no injuries were reported as the guards managed to escape the building in time, according to the museum.</s>RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - A 200-year-old museum in Rio de Janeiro was engulfed by flames.

Firefighters worked late Sunday to put out a large blaze at the esteemed National Museum in northern Rio. It wasn't immediately clear how the fire began.

News portal G1, citing the museum, reported that nobody was injured, and the fire began after the museum had closed for the day. An email sent to the museum late Sunday was not immediately returned.

Sgt. Moises Torres from the state's firefighting headquarters said there was no immediate information about injuries.

According to the museum's website, it has millions of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries and is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.</s>There are fears a massive fire has destroyed Brazil's 200-year-old National Museum in Rio de Janeiro and its collection of more than 20 million items.

It was not immediately clear how the fire began on Sunday night (local time) but in a statement the museum said the blaze started after it had closed to the public.

The museum houses artefacts from Egypt, Greco-Roman art and some of the first fossils found in Brazil.

President Michel Temer said the destruction of the building, once a palace for emperors that had fallen into disrepair, was an "incalculable loss for Brazil".

There were no reported injuries in the fire.

Connected to the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the museum has expositions that include anthropology, archaeology and palaeontology, among others.

The vice director of the museum, Luiz Fernando Dias Duarte, told Globo news the museum suffered chronic underfunding.

"We never got anything from the Federal Government …We recently finalised an agreement with (state-run development bank) BNDES for a massive investment, so that we could finally restore the palace and, ironically, we had planned on a new fire prevention system."

Brazil has struggled to emerge from its worst recession in decades.

The state of Rio de Janeiro has been particularly hard hit in recent years thanks to a combination of falling oil prices, mismanagement and massive corruption.</s>RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 02: A fire burns at the National Museum of Brazil on September 2, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The museum, which is tied to the Rio de Janeiro federal university and the Education Ministry, was founded in 1818 by King John VI of Portugal. It houses several landmark collections including Egyptian artefacts and the oldest human fossil found in Brazil. Its collection include more than 20 million items ranging from archaeological findings to historical memorabilia. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Firefighters from seven different stations are trying to battle the blaze, but Brazilian President Michel Temer has already said the losses are too great to be calculated.

The museum, which is located in Rio de Janeiro, holds at least 20 million artifacts, according to the Brazilian government news agency Agencia Brasil.

It is home to a variety of rare artifacts relating to the history of Brazil, including thousands of works from the Pre-Columbian era.

“The loss of the National Museum’s collection is insurmountable for Brazil. Two hundred years of work, research and knowledge were lost,” Temer said in a tweet Sunday. “This is a sad day for all Brazilians.”

The museum’s current director, João Carlos Nara, said the damage was “irreparable.”

The museum was once home to the Portuguese royal family, and today it’s the oldest historical institution in the country.

It was founded on June 6, 1818, by João VI of Portugal upon his arrival to Rio de Janiero as part of the Imperial Royal Family.</s>(SKY NEWS) – A 200-year-old museum in Rio de Janeiro has been engulfed by flames.

The National Museum of Brazil houses more than 20 million items, ranging from archaeological findings to historical memorabilia.

Firefighters are tackling the fire, which broke out after visiting hours.

Sergeant Moises Torres from the state’s firefighting headquarters said firefighters were dispatched at 7.30pm. He said there was no immediate information about any injuries.

It is not known what the extent of the damage is, nor what the cause of the fire is.

Brazil’s President Michel Temer said on Twitter it was a “sad day for all Brazilians”.

He added: “The value of our history cannot be measured by the damage to the building.”

The museum is the oldest scientific institution in Brazil and one of the largest museums of natural history and anthropology in the Americas.

It houses several landmark collections including Egyptian artefacts and the oldest human fossil found in Brazil.

The museum, which is tied to the Rio de Janeiro federal university and the Education Ministry, was founded in 1818.

The museum is housed in the Paco de Sao Cristovao, a palace where the Portuguese royal family lived in the 19th century.</s>Firefighters are battling a huge blaze at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.

The museum, which once served as the residence for the Portuguese royal family, celebrated its 200-year anniversary earlier this year.</s>Salvaged equipment lies on the ground as flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. less

Salvaged equipment lies on the ground as flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related ... more

Firefighters battle the flames at the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. less

Firefighters battle the flames at the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history ... more

Firefighters work the fire at the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. less

Firefighters work the fire at the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of ... more

Salvaged equipment lies on the ground as flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. less

Salvaged equipment lies on the ground as flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related ... more

Flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro less

Flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other ... more

Flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro less

Flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other ... more

People watch as flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro less

People watch as flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil ... more

Fire burns inside the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro less

Fire burns inside the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other ... more

Firefighters work to put out a fire at the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro less

Firefighters work to put out a fire at the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of ... more

Flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. less

Flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other ... more

Flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro less

Flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other ... more

Flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other countries. The museum is part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. less

Flames engulf the 200-year-old National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. According to its website, the museum has thousands of items related to the history of Brazil and other ... more

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A huge fire engulfed Brazil's 200-year-old National Museum in Rio de Janeiro, lighting up the night sky with towering flames as firefighters and museum workers raced to save historical relics from the blaze.

The esteemed museum, which houses artifacts from Egypt, Greco-Roman art and some of the first fossils found in Brazil, was closed to the public at the time of the fire, which broke out at 7:30 p.m. Sunday local time, it said in a statement.

There were no reports of injuries, the museum said, and it wasn't immediately clear how the fire began.

Roberto Robadey, a spokesman for the fire department, said 80 firefighters were battling the blaze and that by midnight local time it was "just about under control" and should be out within a few hours.

President Michel Temer called it "a sad day for all Brazilians."

"Two hundred years of work, investigation and knowledge have been lost," Temer said in a statement.

According to its website, the museum has a vast collection related to the history of Brazil and other countries, and that many of its collections came from members of Brazil's royal family.

Robadey said firefighters got off to a slow start fighting the blaze because the two fire hydrants closest to the museum were not functioning. Instead, trucks had to be sent to get water from a nearby lake.

But he added that some of the museum's pieces had been spared.

"We were able to remove a lot of things from inside with the help of workers of the museum," Robadey told Globo News.

Connected to the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the museum has expositions that include anthropology, archaeology and paleontology, among others.

The vice director of the museum, Luiz Fernando Dias Duarte, told Globo news the museum suffered chronic underfunding.

"Everybody wants to be supportive now. We never had adequate support," he said.

Latin America's largest nation has struggled to emerge from its worst recession in decades. The state of Rio de Janeiro has been particularly hard hit in recent years thanks to a combination of falling world prices of oil, one of its major revenue sources, mismanagement and massive corruption.

Just over a month before national elections, even before the flames were put out, the fire was leading to recriminations about dilapidated infrastructure and budget deficits in the city that hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics.

"Unfortunately, given the financial straits of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and all the other public universities the last three years, this was a tragedy that could be seen coming," Marina Silva, one of the leading presidential candidates, tweeted.

On Instagram, Rio Mayor Marcelo Crivella called on the country to rebuild.

"It's a national obligation to reconstruct it from the ashes, recompose every eternal detail of the paintings and photos. Even if they are not original, they continue to be a reminder of the royal family that gave us independence, the (Portuguese) empire and the first constitution and national unity," he said.

Associated Press video journalist Yesica Fisch contributed to this report from Rio. AP reporter Mauricio Savarese contributed from Recife, Brazil.
A massive fire destroys most of the Paço de São Cristóvão, which houses the National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro. The museum holds important archaeοlogical and anthropological objects, including the remains of the Luzia Woman, Marajoara vases and Egyptian mummies.