Heavy rains that caused flooding and landslides around Recife, in northeastern Brazil, have killed at least 100 people, according to the latest report provided on Tuesday by local authorities.
The Pernambuco state government, of which Recife is the capital, is also reporting 14 missing, as the search continues in the most affected areas.
More than 400 firefighters were mobilized, mainly at Jardim Monteverde, on the border between Recife and the town of Jaboatao dos Guararapes, where several dozen people were buried by the mudslide.
More than 6,000 people in the Recife region were displaced and had to be accommodated in reception structures, according to the latest report from authorities.
A state of emergency has been declared in 24 municipalities in Pernambuco.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro flew over flooded areas on Monday and the government released a loan of one billion real (about C $ 267 million) to help the victims.
The Head of State was criticized for saying this kind of catastrophe was things happeningafter a similar tragedy that killed 233 people in Petropolis, near Rio de Janeiro (southeast), in February.
Other deadly floods occurred late last year in the state of Bahia (northeast), then in January in the southeast, in the states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais.
Between Friday night and Saturday morning, it rained equivalent to 70% of what is normally expected for the whole of May in some areas of Pernambuco.
Wild urbanization
Natural disaster specialist José Marengo told AFP that the extraordinary rainfall was due to global warming, but was largely deadly due to uncontrolled urbanization.
The rain itself is not deadly. What is deadly is rain on homes located in dangerous areasexplained the research coordinator of the National Center for Monitoring and Warning of Natural Disasters of Brazil (CEMADEN).
According to him, the authorities are guilty existence permits construction in endangered areas, where poor populations live with no access.
Source: Radio-Canada
