RIO DE JANEIRO, 12 The death toll from rains rose to 114 on Wednesday in the state of Rio de Janeiro, as a result of torrential rains that have struck in the last hours southeast Brazil causing flooding and dozens of landslides land in mountainous areas. Teresopolis, located about 80 kilometers from the city of Rio de Janeiro, is the hardest hit area of northeastern Brazil with 89 killed as a result of landslides and overflowing rivers, local media reported.The local mayor, Jorge Mario, has declared a state of emergency to alert the residents are experiencing a "catastrophe." This has been one of the greatest tragedies that has suffered in recent decades Teresópolis. The State Secretary of Environment, Carlos Minc, does not rule out the death toll exceeds one hundred because rescue teams still could not reach many affected areas.
The situation in Teresópolis is the product of a combination of "natural disaster" with "irresponsibility" of some local authorities. "Misfortune does not have size," Minc has said in statements to the press. The rains have left 900 people homeless while another 1,200 had to be evacuated because their homes were in areas of risk.
Almost all the victims have been moved to that city's Olympic Stadium. Nova Friburgo, located 140 kilometers from Rio, is also immersed in the chaos. At least 7 people have died in several landslides recorded in the morning. The authorities have registered about 30 landslides. In Petrópolis about 18 people were killed washed away or crushed by landslides, but local authorities believe that the death toll exceeds 40.
The deputy governor of Rio, Luiz Fernando Peza, has warned that the situation in these two cities is "very serious" and announced the deployment of hundreds of policemen, soldiers, firefighters and specialized personnel to assist in the rescue of victims . Also provide helicopters to reach remote areas by the water.
Meanwhile, in Sao Paulo remains the state of alert for rain Monday and Tuesday killed 13 people and generated an unprecedented chaos in the largest city in Brazil and South America. The rains have been punished in recent weeks to southeastern Brazil, killing more than 180,000 affected. Only in the state of Minas Gerais have more than 37 people died as a result of the rains.
This forced state authorities to declare a state of emergency in 65 cities.
- Rio de Janeiro Mudslides, Floods Kill 349 People (13/01/2011)
- Rio de Janeiro Mudslides, Floods Kill 349 People - BusinessWeek (13/01/2011)
- Brazil flooding claims more than 170 lives - CNN (13/01/2011)
- Brazil floods kill more than 100 in San Paolo and Rio de Janeiro (12/01/2011)
- Brazil floods kill more than 100 in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (12/01/2011)
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