Emergency Response Underway After Deadly Storms Hit Brazil
Emergency responders in boats and aircraft are working urgently to reach isolated individuals in the mountainous southeast region of Brazil following severe storms and heavy rainfall that have claimed the lives of at least 23 people. Among those rescued is a 4-year-old girl who was trapped under mud for over 16 hours.
The municipality of Mimoso do Sul, with a population of nearly 25,000 residents in the south of Espirito Santo, has been the hardest hit, recording thirteen fatalities. State Governor Renato Casagrande has described the situation as "chaotic," noting that the full extent of the damage in remote areas is still unknown, raising concerns that the death toll may increase.
Across the border in Rio de Janeiro, at least eight individuals have lost their lives, with landslides being the primary cause of fatalities, according to officials.
Tragic Incident in Rio State
Reports from Rio state indicate that a devastating storm led to multiple casualties, with four deaths occurring in the city of Petropolis. The storm caused a house to collapse, resulting in tragic consequences.
Among the victims was a father who, according to a neighbor, shielded his 4-year-old daughter from harm as the house crumbled. Miraculously, search teams were able to rescue the young girl after she was buried in mud for over 16 hours. Although the father did not survive, his selfless act ensured the survival of his daughter.
Climate Change Impact
Brazil, the largest country in South America, is currently grappling with a series of extreme weather events. Experts are attributing these occurrences to the effects of climate change, warning that such events are likely to become more frequent in the future.
Such environmental tragedies "are intensifying with climate change," President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, adding that thousands had been left homeless by the storm.
He expressed sympathy for the victims, and said his government was working with state and local authorities to "protect, prevent and repair flood damage."
Around 90 people have been rescued since Friday, according to a bulletin from an emergency committee comprising Rio government and civil defense officials.
Images on local media showed rivers of water, mud and debris rushing down slopes in picturesque Petropolis, which in February 2022 saw at least 241 deaths from another catastrophic storm.
Dozens of soldiers and firefighters, aided by dogs, worked Saturday in the pouring rain. Part of the cemetery had been washed away, an AFP team in the town also saw, with further landslides still a risk.
In Mimoso do Sul, a fire truck was seen being dragged down a street by currents, while images released Saturday by the state fire department showed entire neighborhoods under water, with only the roofs of houses visible.
The National Institute of Meteorology had predicted a severe storm, particularly in Rio, with rainfall of almost 8 inches a day from Friday through Sunday. Normally, the area receives 5 1/2 inches of rain in all of March.
As the storm approached, Rio authorities declared an administrative holiday on Friday and advised people to stay home.
Following a record heat wave, the storm brought heavy rains and strong winds, providing relief from the scorching heat index that soared above 62 degrees Celsius, or 143 degrees Fahrenheit.
Brazil has faced catastrophic rains and flooding in the past. Last September, a cyclone in southern Brazil caused severe flooding, washing away houses, trapping motorists, and leaving thousands homeless.
In 2022, northeastern Brazil experienced devastating flooding and landslides due to torrential rain, resulting in the tragic loss of over 100 lives.
