- In southeast Brazil, mostly in the hilly areas, a strong storm has killed at least twelve people.
- Climate warming is making environmental catastrophes worse.
- Schools opened their doors to the displaced, and dozens of troops with dogs were dispatched to the site.
In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at least eight people have died, and in southeast Brazil, mostly in the hilly areas, a strong storm has killed at least twelve people.
With a string of extreme weather events that experts predict are more likely to occur due to climate change, Brazil, the largest country in South America, is currently experiencing a deluge.
A strong storm
In Rio de Janeiro, there have been at least eight verified deaths, and Espirito Santo has confirmed four dead and seven missing. Climate warming is making environmental catastrophes worse.
The storm left thousands of people without a place to live. In addition to expressing condolences for the losses, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced that his administration was collaborating with state and municipal authorities to guard against, stop, and restore flood damage.
In Petropolis, 70 kilometers inland from the capital, a house collapsed due to the storm, resulting in four deaths in Rio-state. A girl who had been buried in the debris for more than sixteen hours was rescued, as seen by an AFP team. Her father bravely shielded the girl with his body; he was discovered dead close to her.
Espirito Santo, farther up the coast, has reported four deaths. Mimoso do Sul’s scenario is characterized as “chaotic” because of the heavy rainfall and the Quitandinha River overflowing. The situation in Petropolis has been deemed critical by Rio Governor Claudio Castro because of the heavy rainfall and the Quitandinha River overflowing.
Schools opened their doors to the displaced, and dozens of troops with dogs were dispatched to the site. Since Friday, almost 90 people have been saved.
Heavy rain is expected to continue on Saturday in the mountains and to the north of Rio; on just one day, Petropolis recorded 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) of rain. From Friday through Sunday, the National Institute of Meteorology forecasted a severe storm with 20 cm of rain per day, with Rio in particular.