By Alejandra Garcia on February 21, 2023
Photo: Nelson Almeida
This weekend, celebrations for Brazil’s traditional carnival have been overshadowed by the wake of pain and desolation left by unprecedented rains in Sao Paulo. Over 500 rescuers, law enforcement, military, and citizens woke up Tuesday morning searching among debris and floods for possible victims of the catastrophe, which so far has left 44 dead, including children.
In just eight hours, more than 24 inches of water fell, forcing the displacement of 228 people from their homes and leaving 338 homeless, while some 40 people are still missing. This is the largest continuous accumulated rainfall in Brazil’s history, according to the local government.
The persistent rains left houses completely buried by water, with barely visible roofs, dozens of roads blocked, landslides, and water and energy supply affected. Everything is covered by thick mud. Dozens of cars are overturned on the pavement, after the water displaced them several meters downhill.
People try to recover what little they have left from the debris or search endlessly for a missing family member. Meanwhile, in the center of Sao Sebastiao, the authorities have set up a tent for a collective vigil for the victims.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled to the area to attend the emergency, together with his government’s top officials, to accompany the people and meet with local authorities. It is the first disaster he has had to respond to after assuming his third term in office on January 1.
“Solidarity is imperative to assist the injured, search for the missing, restore roads, power and telecommunications connections in the region,” the president tweeted from the disaster zone.
Flying over the region, the president warned against unplanned urbanization in Brazil, where 9.5 million people live in areas at risk from landslides or flooding, according to official figures.
“There is much that needs to be done to alleviate these hours of pain,” Lula said, and announced that the local government will allocate seven million Reais (more than US$1,354,000) to the Civil Defense to help the victims. Civil Defense trucks are distributing mattresses, blankets, cleaning kits and food, and two Armed Forces helicopters are taking aid into the communities. In addition, the Military Police have sent seven aircrafts into the area to be available for the rescue of victims, transportation of rescuers and other humanitarian aid actions.
In a statement, the State Secretary of Health informed that the regional hospitals of Litoral Norte and Sao Jose dos Campos also have all their capacities available to attend to the victims of the downpours.
In a tone that brings about unity in times like these, the environmentally conscious Lula said, “The common good of the population is much more important than any disagreement we may have. We are together to face the situation and help the entire population of the São Paulo no matter what district they live in.
Source: Resumen Latinoamericano – US