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Tragic storm in Brazil: at least 36 dead and dozens missing due to record rainfall in Sao Paulo

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At least 36 people died as a result of flooding and landslides in the main coastal towns of the state of São Paulo, in Brazil, a region that was punished by one of the worst rains in history, and which was filled with tourists for the long Carnival celebrations.

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This was reported in a statement from the government of the state of São Paulo, sent to foreign correspondents more than 500 people are evacuated and that the intervention of the Army has been requested, to try to find the survivors in the neighborhoods buried by the mud of the rains.

The death count was carried out by the Civil Protection of the State of São Paulo. The municipalities concerned are Sao Sebastiao, Ubatuba, Ilhabela, Caraguatuba, Bertioga, Santos, Guarujá and Caraguatatuba.

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The most critical situation is in the municipality of Sao Sebastiao, in the hills located on the beaches of Camburí, Baleia, Juqueí, Sahy and Boicucanga.

The SP-55 highway, blocked by a landslide that hit the municipality of Ubatuba, on the north coast of the state of São Paulo.  (Photo Ubatuba Civil Protection/AFP)

The SP-55 highway, blocked by a landslide that hit the municipality of Ubatuba, on the north coast of the state of São Paulo. (Photo Ubatuba Civil Protection/AFP)

The governor of São Paulo, who was Minister of Infrastructure during the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, Tarcísio de Freitas, decreed the state of public calamity for Ubatuba; St. Sebastian; Ilhabela; Caraguatuba and Bertioga, in the north coast region of São Paulo.

Major roads in the region, including the Rio-Santos highway, are cut off due to avalanches and broken asphalt.

The government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva put the army at the disposal of the governor of Freitas, who went to the site of the disaster and assured that there are many access problems to rescue the survivors.

Cars crashed after road crash near coast, in Sao Sebastiao (Government of São Paulo via AP)

Cars crashed after road crash near coast, in Sao Sebastiao (Government of São Paulo via AP)

This climate tragedy caused the cessation of Carnival celebrations in the coastal cities of São Paulo, which are full due to the holiday till next wednesday.

This Tuesday, the Minister of Regional Development, Waldez Goes, will be transferred to the post, according to an official statement. Goes reported that the Defense Ministry has taken steps to make its logistics available to help with relief efforts.

The mayor of Sao Sebastiao, Felipe Augusto, told the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper it is not possible to reach the city by any road, because they are all affected by landslides.

Sao Sebastiao, one of the hardest hit spots (NELSON ALMEIDA / Sao Sebastiao City Hall / AFP)

Sao Sebastiao, one of the hardest hit spots (NELSON ALMEIDA / Sao Sebastiao City Hall / AFP)

“The situation is chaotic because you are not able to access those places with lifeguards,” he said.

“The damage is enormous, gigantic. We will work all night and the priority now is to save the people who are under the rubble. Houses of all types have collapsed, the most modest, but also those of the middle and upper class,” said Felipe Augusto, according to the Europa Press agency.

According to the local press, it rained in 24 hours in Sao Sebastiao and Ubatuba more than 600 millimeters, above what was expected for the whole month of February. The most critical situation was a swamp of permanent residents on Barra do Sahy beach.

the site of the disaster It is located 190 kilometers from the city of São Paulo. The port of Santos, the largest in Latin America, had to stop work for a few hours due to the storm. The affected region was fully booked due to the tourist flow for the Carnival festivities. 46 million inhabitants live in the state of São Paulo.

Brazil is feeling the effects of climate change, with extreme events becoming more frequent, such as in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, where more than 230 people died due to heavy rains in February 2022, reported the AFP agency.

Source: Clarin

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