RIO DE JANEIRO — Construction work on the concert stage for global pop icon Shakira’s upcoming performance at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Copacabana Beach has restarted, just one day after a fatal on-site accident forced a temporary halt to preparations. The 28-year-old victim, locksmith Gabriel de Jesus Firmino, was killed Sunday when he was crushed between two moving stage elevators after the equipment was mistakenly activated by another construction worker, law enforcement officials confirmed.
Local lead investigator Ângelo Lenges confirmed that the Brazilian construction company contracted to build the open-air stage is now the subject of an official probe, with investigators focusing on allegations that the firm failed to meet mandatory Brazilian workplace safety standards. As of Tuesday, the boundary-breaking Colombian superstar, who is wrapping her first global tour in six years, has not issued any public statement regarding the tragedy.
Shakira’s free concert, scheduled for next Saturday evening on Copacabana’s world-famous shoreline, is expected to draw a massive crowd, following in the footsteps of Lady Gaga’s 2023 free performance that brought more than 2 million fans to the beach in what became the largest show of her career. This stop will cap off the singer’s first world tour since 2018, a run that has broken multiple attendance records across the globe.
Public reaction to the accident among Rio residents and beach visitors has been marked by grief for the victim combined with broad support for keeping the concert on its original calendar. Walking along the beach near the construction zone Monday morning, 41-year-old local singer Anita Costa shared a common sentiment. “It is a sad thing that this happened,” she told reporters. “But the concert should go on.”
Concert organizers have released an official statement extending their condolences and solidarity to the construction firm, its on-site staff, and the family of Firmino, who lost his life in the lead-up to the event. The Associated Press continues to cover developments across Latin America and the Caribbean, with full coverage available on its dedicated regional hub.