Baghdad-Aw
At least 12 people died due to a violent storm that struck southeastern Brazil, especially the mountainous region in Rio de Janeiro state, where authorities described the situation as “critical.”
The Rio state government confirmed that four people were killed in the collapse of a house and a small building in Petrópolis, a tourist town about 70 kilometers from the state capital.
Petrópolis Governor Claudio Castro warned on social media that the situation in the area was “critical” due to “heavy rains and flooding of the Kitandina River.”
In total, Rio state has recorded seven deaths since Friday due to rain, including deaths in Teresópolis, Santa Cruz da Serra and Arraial do Cabo, according to the government.
Moreover, the Civil Defense of Espirito Santo confirmed the death of four people in the south of the province on Saturday afternoon.
Two children were also injured and taken to hospital on Friday in rain-related accidents on the coast of São Paulo.
Experts from the National Institute of Meteorology explained that the storm was due to the arrival of a cold front mid-week in Rio Grande do Sul (south), and then affected São Paulo and Rio, before reaching Espirito Santo.
The severity of the floods was demonstrated by aerial photographs published by the Civil Defense showing the town of Mimoso do Sul under water.
The National Institute of Meteorology predicted a “severe” storm, especially in Rio, with an average of 200 mm of rain falling daily between Friday and Sunday.
This rate exceeds the historical average of 141.5 mm for the entire month of March.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said in a post on the X platform that environmental tragedies like these are “exacerbated by climate change,” adding that thousands were left homeless due to the storm. He expressed his sympathy for the victims, and said that his government was working with local authorities.
The storm comes after a heat wave that the region witnessed, as a tangible temperature of 62.3 degrees Celsius was recorded on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil is suffering from the effects of climate change, and is witnessing frequent natural disasters.
More than 230 people died in Petrópolis in 2022 after heavy rains.
2024-03-25 07:23:00