(Sao Paulo) Landslides in southeastern Brazil have claimed 54 lives, according to the latest report released Friday by the authorities, while Pope Francis assured to pray for the victims.
” I enclose […] my prayers, God bless you,” the pontiff said in a Spanish-language video posted on Vatican News social media.
More than 680 millimeters of rain fell in 24 hours at the end of last week in Sao Sebastiao, a seaside resort about 200 km from Sao Paulo, more than double the monthly rainfall.
“At the moment we confirm 54 deaths”, explained the office of the governor of the state of Sao Paulo, indicating that “16 women, 15 men and 15 children” have been identified.
The previous report, dating from Thursday evening, reported 50 dead.
The authorities estimate that around 30 people are still missing and searches are continuing unabated in the neighborhoods most affected by landslides and floods.
Nearly 4,000 people had to leave their homes.
Experts attribute these extreme events to a combination of the effects of climate change and uncontrolled urbanization.
In Brazil, 9.5 million people live in areas prone to landslides or floods, many of them in favelas lacking basic sanitation infrastructure, according to the National Center for Monitoring and Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN). ) from the country.