Crime against tourists at Rio de Janeiro’s celebrated beaches has been significantly reduced in recent years. No longer do visitors need to worry about every scrap they own when they go in for a swim, but it’s still wise to leave valuables behind when you head for the beach. For the next month, though, heading for the beach in Rio is not a good idea. A major sewer line sprang a leak April 12 and both Copacabana and Ipanema beaches have been polluted and are not safe for swimming. Rio’s sewage is normally pumped 2.7 miles out to sea, but the leak has caused significant sewage dumps near the beaches. The pipeline is being repaired and conditions should return to normal by mid-May. Meanwhile, officials are studying the feasibility of building a treatment plant.
