A strong storm accompanied by “record” rainfall killed at least 19 people as a result of flooding and landslides during the Carnival weekend in several localities in the state of Sao Paulo, authorities said on Sunday.
“So far, 19 deaths have been officially recorded” in this coastal region north of the capital, the state government said in a statement, adding that 228 people have been 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.
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 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.
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.
Integration and Regional Development Minister Waldez Goes will visit the region on Monday.
“There will be no lack of human resources or equipment,” he promised the 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.