Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/SAO PAULO: Heavy rains in coastal places of Brazil’s southeast have caused flooding and landslides that killed at least 36 citizens and dislodged hundreds of others, according to a statement from Sao Paulo state authorities.
Rescue employees continue to look for victims, reconnect isolated communities, and clear roads, some of which remain blocked, trapping an undetermined number of tourists who traveled for Brazil Carnival celebrations.
Heavy rains continue
Weather forecasts show heavy rains would continue in Sao Paulo’s coastal area, challenging civil defense and fire department rescue teams and raising the prospect of a higher death toll.
The federal government determined the mobilization of many ministries to assist victims, restore infrastructure and start reconstruction work. Sao Paulo state has declared a 180-day state of calamity for six different cities after what experts described as an unprecedented, extreme weather event.
On Monday, the statement said that Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas would meet federal officials as they coordinate the response to the tragedy.
According to a local news outlet, operations at the port of Santos, Latin America’s largest, were interrupted amid wind gusts exceeding 55 kpm and waves over one meter high on Saturday.
President Lula, who was spending carnival in Bahia state in Brazil’s northeast, is set to visit the significantly affected places on Monday, his office said.
