Hydrogymnastics students at the Municipal Olympic Center of Nova Iguaçu, in Baixada Fluminense, experienced moments of fright after finding snakes inside the sports area during a class held last Thursday (21).
According to reports from visitors, one of the animals appeared inside the pool while students were participating in the activity. Another snake was reportedly found in an area of tall grass near the complex's facilities. The Fire Department was called and collected two baby boa constrictors from the location.
The incident has generated concern among users of the sports center, which serves children, teenagers, adults, and seniors daily in activities such as water aerobics, swimming, athletics, handball, gymnastics, and karate.
Visitors attribute the appearance of the snakes to a lack of maintenance of the area. Complaints include tall grass, accumulated dirt, potential breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes, and structural problems in different areas of the complex.
Users also reported that the pool became covered in slime after the filtration pump stopped working. According to them, animals began appearing in the surrounding areas and in the water after the equipment was restarted.
The Public Prosecutor's Office of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) has opened an investigation.
The Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor's Office (MPRJ) announced that it has opened a civil inquiry to investigate "the precarious functioning, structure, and security of the Olympic Center."
According to the agency, investigations were carried out at the site and official letters were sent to the Nova Iguaçu City Hall, the Civil Defense, and the Municipal Health Surveillance. The MPRJ also requested access to the bidding process related to the maintenance and repair work at the sports complex.
"The complaint regarding the appearance of snakes on the premises of the sports complex will be added to the case file, and the investigation will continue to determine the necessary measures to guarantee the safety of users and workers at the site," the Public Prosecutor's Office informed.
What does the city hall say?
In a statement, the City Hall of Nova Iguaçu stated that it carried out mowing, pruning and cleaning services around the Municipal Olympic Center and said that sports activities continue to function normally.
The municipal administration also reported that the Nova Iguaçu Development Company (Codeni) has been carrying out maintenance work in the space since last week, including structural repairs to bathrooms, painting, and conservation interventions.
Regarding the incident involving the animals, the Municipal Department of Sports and Leisure reported that the snake was removed by the Fire Department with no injuries reported.
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