Even before the embers had begun to cool, grief over the huge cultural loss gave way to anger at funding cuts many say are threatening Brazil's multi-cultural heritage, after an inferno that gutted the treasured National Museum in Rio de Janeiro.

Video source: AFP

Aerial view of the damage to the National Museum of Brazil after a devastating fire on September 3, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A cause to the catastrophic fire is still unknown. The museum, which is tied to the Rio de Janeiro federal university and the Education Ministry, was founded in 1818 by King John VI of Portugal and celebrated its 200th anniversary this year. It houses several landmark collections including Egyptian artifacts and the oldest human fossil found in Brazil. Its collection include more than 20 million items ranging from archaeological findings to historical memorabilia. (Photos: VCG)