Brazil Deluge Claims 36 Lives; Scores Missing; Search Continues

Following a significant weekend downpour, landslides and flooding along the coast of Sao Paulo state in southern Brazil claimed the lives of at least 36 people. Hundreds of rescuers sought for survivors on Monday.

Sao Sebastiao was the worst-hit city, with at least 35 fatalities. A 7-year-old child was slain in the nearby city of Ubatuba. The accident, which occurred in a region known for its beaches and mountain backdrop, forced numerous cities to postpone their Carnival celebrations, which are currently in full flow elsewhere in the nation.

Another 40 individuals were missing, according to governor Tarcisio de Freitas, who spoke to the television network Globo. According to a statement from his state administration, 1,730 individuals have been relocated and about 800 people are homeless.

Just the roofs of flooded homes could be seen on television images. Small boats were utilised by locals to transport supplies and people to higher ground.

A woman identified only by her first name, Mailsa, claimed that when a landslide demolished her home in the Juquehy municipality of Sao Sebastiao, she and her husband, daughter, and grandson barely made it out alive. The house was half drowned, some of it fell away, and the remaining portion was left hanging perilously on a hillside.

“It happened quickly. You have to flee or you’ll perish “She spoke. Only your life, which is the most important thing, is possible to take.

Armed forces personnel joined the search and rescue operations, which were made more difficult by the fact that many areas were difficult to reach because of landslides that blocked the winding roads in the region’s highlands and floods that washed away pieces of pavement in low-lying and oceanfront areas.

“Our rescue crews are having trouble reaching various sites. The situation is chaotic “Late Sunday night, Sao Sebastiao Mayor Felipe Augusto made a statement on social media.

According to Augusto, the landslides caused roughly 50 houses to fall in the city. He shared many videos of the damage and the search operations, including one showing neighbours lining up on a flooded street to save a baby.

Landslides and flooding closed the route between Rio de Janeiro state with Santos, the port city of Sao Paulo.

During the weekend, Sao Sebastiao experienced one of the heaviest downpours ever in such a brief period of time in Brazil, with precipitation exceeding 600 millimetres in a 24-hour period.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, paid a visit to the area on Monday. He flew over Sao Sebastiao to assess the damage and met with the governor at the theatre, where search efforts were being conducted.

Sao Sebastiao, Ubatuba, Ilhabela, and Bertioga were among the hardest-hit cities, and De Freitas proclaimed a state of emergency for them. This permits quick distribution of aid funding. He claimed that $1.35 million had already been paid out.

A video of 30,000 litres of water being brought to Sao Sebastiao was released on Twitter by the state government, which said that the intense rain had a negative impact on phone, electricity, and water services. Furthermore given were hygiene kits, blankets, sleeping bags, mattresses, and medical equipment.

There won’t be a shortage of money or supplies, according to a statement from the Transport Ministry.

Rich tourists who wish to avoid the wild street parties in big cities frequently travel to the affected area on the northern shore of Sao Paulo state during Carnival.