Heavy rains caused flooding and landslides that killed 36 people in Brazil’s northern state of São Paulo, authorities said on Sunday, and the death toll could rise.
The São Paulo state government said in a statement that 35 people died in the city of São Sebastiao and a 7-year-old girl was killed in the nearby town of Ubatuba.
The cities of São Sebastiao, Ubatuba, Ilhabela and Bertioga, are among the hardest hit and they are now in a state of calamity. They have canceled their carnival festivities as rescue teams struggle to find those who are missing, injured and whose lives are feared.
“Our rescue teams are unable to get to several places; it’s a chaotic situation,” said Felipe Augusto, the mayor of São Sebastiao. Later he added that there were dozens of people missing and 50 houses collapsed in the town due to landslides.
Mr Augusto posted several videos of widespread destruction in his town on his social media, including one showing a baby being rescued by residents lined up in a flooded street.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tweeted that he would visit the region on Monday.
The São Paulo state government said in a statement that rainfall in the region exceeded 600 millimeters in one day, one of the highest amounts ever recorded in Brazil in such a short time.
The municipality of Bertioga alone received 687 millimeters during this period, the state government said.
Governor Tarcisio de Freitas said in a statement that he had requested the support of the army, which sent two planes and rescue teams to the region.
Television images showed flooded houses with only the roof visible. Residents use small boats to transport objects and people to higher positions. A road that connects Rio de Janeiro to the port city of Santos has been blocked by landslides and flooding.
The northern coast of São Paulo state is a frequent carnival destination for wealthy tourists who prefer to stay away from the massive street parties in the big cities.