Brazil: at least 48 dead after torrential rains in the Sao Paulo region

Rescue workers after landslides caused by heavy rains in the coastal city of São Sebastião in the São Paulo region, February 22, 2023. © Andre Penner / AP Photo

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Brazil is licking its wounds after the record rains that fell on Sao Paulo during the weekend of February 18 to 19.

At least 48 people died from the weather and subsequent landslides.

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The inhabitants of Sao Paulo had come by the thousands to spend the carnival holidays in this very touristic and heavenly area, says our correspondent in Sao Paulo,

.

But the dream quickly turned into a nightmare: torrential rains fell on the northern coast of Sao Paulo.

In 24 hours, more than 68 cm of water fell there, double what was forecast for the entire month.

The precarious housing, perched on the hills, was buried by landslides.

Very quickly, the search was organized, but entire families were buried in the mud.

Around 2,500 people have been evacuated from their homes due to threats of further landslides.

Thirty-eight missing people are still being sought by the emergency services, according to a report by the governor of the state of Sao Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas.

🚨🚨 Agora: Litoral Norte de São Paulo.#litoralnorte #ubatuba #SaoSebastiao pic.twitter.com/1fFmTjvnmn

— Ana Spiacci (@AnaSpiacci) February 20, 2023

The Rio-Santos road partly destroyed

Entire sections of the road that connects Rio de Janeiro to the port of Santos, near Sao Paulo, have been completely destroyed.

Supplies had to be transported by helicopter and by sea. It was also by air that the wealthiest were able to escape the trap and return home. 

Further rainfall is expected throughout the week in the region, although less intense, between 20 and 50 mm per day, according to the National Meteorological Institute (Inmet).

These extreme climatic phenomena are not rare in the region, but they are becoming more and more frequent and deadly, without the most vulnerable populations being able to be sheltered from bad weather.

► To read also: Press review of the Americas - President Lula flew over the flood zone in southern Brazil

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• Environment

• Natural disasters

• Brazil

• Severe weather