Brazilian flooding death toll rises to 53
Officials said that the death toll of people living in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state from the latest floods and landslides reached 53, while roads were closed and shops and streets were flooded after the rain fell even more heavily throughout the night.
Rescue teams continued to search for victims for a third day since the disaster began late Monday, causing floods, landslides, house collapses and schools to close.
The Minas Gerais fire department said 15 people were still missing and more than 230 people had been rescued.
In a statement on Thursday morning, Brazilian meteorological institute Inmet stated that more rain is expected with strong winds, drawing attention to the risk of power outages, falling tree branches, floods and lightning strikes.
“This morning all the shops in the city center are being cleaned again. Monday’s storm has already caused damage, and there was even more damage early this morning,” said Priest Ananias Simões, pastor of a church in Juiz de Fora, the hardest-hit city.
The victims were all found in Juiz de Fora and Uba, about 310 km north of Rio de Janeiro.
Stating that the church provided shelter and materials to the victims, Simões said that many roads were closed due to the expectation of heavier rain. Despite logistical difficulties, he planned to travel to the hard-hit northern part of the city to distribute food and water.
“The situation is very chaotic,” he said. “Everyone is doing their best to make sure everyone stays safe.”
The fire department advised residents to look for signs that their homes are damaged or at risk of collapse, such as cracks in bulging walls, cracks and stuck doors and windows. Outside, muddy water running down hillsides, bending trees and power poles, and cracking sounds coming from the ground are all signs of imminent danger.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on social media channels on Tuesday that security forces were carrying out rescue missions and providing emergency aid to people affected by the rain.
Scientists say that extreme weather conditions are occurring more frequently due to human-induced climate change.
A massive flood in May 2024 in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul killed at least 185 people and wreaked havoc on nearly everything needed for economic activity, from stores to factories to farms and ranches. Financial losses amounted to over 10 billion reais ($A2.7 billion).
