Following a fan’s tragic death, Taylor Swift postponed Saturday’s Nov. 18 concert in Rio amid the eighth heat wave in Brazil this year. The wave is bringing in the highest combination of temperature and humidity ever recorded in the region, reaching a reported 138 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a 23-year-old fan got on her first flight heading to Rio de Janeiro to live her dream and see Swift perform live. The young woman later died at a nearby hospital just hours after seeking medical attention while at the concert.
“I’m writing this from my dressing room in the stadium.” Swift wrote. “The decision has been made to postpone tonight’s show due to the extreme temperatures in Rio. The safety and well-being of my fans, fellow performers, and crew has to and always will come first.”
While the young woman’s cause of death is still being determined, some people, including politicians, speculate that the extreme heat played a role in it. Now authorities say they have opened a criminal investigation into the death.
Last week, incident meteorologists declared a red alert on Brazil, warning of risks to health and even life. With temperatures soaring, concertgoers said they were not allowed to bring water into the stadium on Friday, Nov. 17. Attendees also said it was difficult to get water depending on where they were seated, according to The Associated Press.
At one point during the concert, Swift paused the show as fans needing water had caught her attention in the front. Swift posted on social media Saturday morning that she had a “shattered heart.”
Meteorologists say that this record heat is linked to climate change and El Niño, the weather phenomenon that warms surface waters in the region.
