Several localities in the state of Sao Paulo, in southern Brazil, saw the carnival weekend ruined by a strong storm accompanied by "record" rainfall which led to flooding and fatal landslides.
"So far, nineteen deaths have been officially recorded" in this coastal region north of the capital, the state government said in a statement on Sunday February 19, stating that 228 people were displaced and 338 others evacuated. An operation is underway to help the victims. The number of missing people has not yet been specified by the authorities, who are still hard at work to help the survivors.
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.
Neighborhoods under water
The municipality of Sao Sebastiao, located about 200 km from Sao Paulo, very busy with locals during Carnival, was one of the most affected. In twenty-four hours, 600 mm of rain were recorded, the town hall said. The rainfall volumes were "exceptional and broke records", said 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.
“We are working on about fifty buildings that have collapsed due to the force of the waters. People are still underground,” the mayor said.
The Brazilian army mobilized
More than a hundred firefighters are still active on this difficult terrain, using vehicles and seven helicopters, explained 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.
The Minister of Integration and Regional Development, Waldez Goes, will visit the region on Monday. "There will be no shortage of human resources or equipment," he promised Brazilian television channel GloboNews.
Brazil, which is suffering the effects of climate change, is plagued by repeated natural disasters, such as in Petropolis in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where more than 230 people died following heavy rains in 2022.
