Overcrowded car plunges into lake in Brazil, killing ten, including five children

Ten people died after a car plunged into a lake in a rural area of the Brazilian municipality of Barra Mansa, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

The accident happened in the early hours of Sunday, after a passer-by raised the alarm when they noticed the submerged vehicle.

"The victims were already dead when they were removed from the vehicle," said the government of the state of Rio de Janeiro in a statement, quoted by AFP.

On social media, the Rio authorities expressed their condolences over the accident, confirming that the victims included five adults and five children.

Some Brazilian media reported that a baby girl was among the victims. The victims' identities have not been confirmed.

Emergency teams were sent to the scene. Firefighters managed to recover the submerged victims with the help of two divers.

Local authorities have classified the incident as an accident, and the police are investigating the circumstances.

According to media outlet G1, which cites a relative, all the victims belonged to the same family.

The Rio de Janeiro region was hit by heavy rain on Saturday, which caused flooding in several streets, including some in tourist areas such as Copacabana.