An operation was underway this Sunday evening in several localities in the state of Sao Paulo, where floods and landslides caused the death of at least 24 people this weekend.
A strong storm accompanied by a “record” amount of rain killed at least 19 people following floods and landslides during the Carnival weekend in several localities in the state of Sao Paulo, said this Sunday the authorities.
So far, 35 deaths have been recorded in the municipality of Sao Sebastiao, located about 200 km from Sao Paulo, the local government said in a statement issued on Sunday. Further north, in the coastal town of Ubatuba, a baby girl died following heavy rains, the local government said.
“Unfortunately, we are going to have many more deaths,” Sao Paulo State Civil Defense chief Henguel Pereira was quoted by Brazilian daily Folha de S.Paulo as saying.
In addition, some 228 people have been displaced and 338 others evacuated in this region of the south-east of the country, where a state of emergency has been declared in five municipalities. The number of missing persons has not yet been specified by the authorities, who are still hard at work to help the survivors.
60 centimeters of rain in 24 hours
The governor of the state of Sao Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas, who flew over the area affected by the storm, declared a state of emergency in five municipalities in this region located north of Sao Paulo, according to the press release.
The municipality of Sao Sebastiao, located about 200 km from Sao Paulo, very frequented by the inhabitants of the region during Carnival, was one of the most affected. In twenty-four hours, 600 mm of rain were recorded, the town hall said.
The volumes of precipitation were “exceptional and broke records”, underlined Felipe Augusto, mayor of the city, where the program of festivities was canceled.
Images of the area broadcast by local media or on social networks testify to the extent of the damage. Neighborhoods were submerged, rubble of homes was swept away by landslides and roads collapsed.
More than a hundred firefighters are still active on this difficult terrain, using vehicles and seven helicopters, said the government of Sao Paulo.
In addition, the Brazilian army was also mobilized, as well as two military aircraft. Specialized Civil Defense groups have also been deployed to the scene to reinforce the rescue system.
