Hundreds of rescuers on Monday searched for survivors of landslides and floods that killed at least 40 people along the coast of the southern Brazilian state of Sao Paulo after a weekend of heavy rain.
The hardest hit was the city of Sao Sebastiao in the state of São Paulo, where at least 35 people died. In neighboring Ubatuba, a seven-year-old girl was killed. The disaster in an area known for its beaches surrounded by mountains has prompted many cities to cancel Carnival celebrations, which are now in full swing elsewhere in the country.
Governor Tarcisio de Freitas told Globo television network that 40 people were missing. Nearly 800 people are homeless and 1,730 people have been displaced, the state government of São Paulo said in a statement.
Television footage showed flooded homes with only their roofs visible. People use small boats to carry items and people to high positions.
Armed forces have been involved in search and rescue efforts, exacerbated by limited access to many areas after landslides blocked winding roads in the region’s highlands. areas and floods have washed away patches of pavement in low-lying and coastal areas.
“Our rescue teams did not manage to reach some locations. It’s a chaotic situation,” Sao Sebastiao Mayor Felipe Augusto said on social media Sunday night.
Augusto said about 50 houses collapsed in the city due to landslides. He has posted several videos of the demolition and search efforts, including a scene of a baby being rescued by locals in a long queue on a flooded street.
Rainfall in Sao Sebastiao exceeded 600mm (23.6 inches) over the past 24 hours over the weekend, one of the heaviest such rains ever in such a short time in Brazil.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva urged people living in hillside areas to be relocated to safer areas. “Sometimes nature surprises us, but there are times when we defy nature,” Lula said in a speech to reporters in Sao Sebastiao.
De Freitas declared a state of emergency for the worst-affected cities, including Sao Sebastiao, Ubatuba, Ilhabela and Bertioga, allowing for rapid allocation of relief funds. On Monday, the governor also announced three official days of mourning across the state of Sao Paulo.
According to a statement from the state government, heavy rains affected water, electricity and telephone services, and posted on Twitter a video showing 30,000 liters (7,925 gallons) of water being transported to Sao Sebastiao. Cleaning kits, blankets, sleeping bags, mattresses and medical supplies were also sent.
Regional Development and Integration Minister Waldez Góes said on Twitter that experts are reviewing reconstruction plans. “In the coming days, we will work to rebuild the bridges, public buildings, housing units and all affected public infrastructure,” Góes said.
