Rousseff covers the areas devastated by the rains in Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO, 14 The president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, has come on Thursday the areas affected by heavy rainfall in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, where some 419 people have died from floods and landslides land, as reported by local media. Rousseff has flown over the mountainous area first, about 100 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro, which has been devastated by heavy rains that have fallen in the last three days before reaching the town of Nova Friburgo, one of the most affected by temporary 168 dead.

"We will take firm action," said Rousseff to reach Nova Friburgo, according to Agencia Brasil reported. The president arrived at the football field accompanied by six ministers and the governor of Rio, Sergio Cabral. During his tour, Rousseff has visited the streets and squares that were flooded by water and has talked with several of the victims.

It has also been in the area where four firefighters died after collapsing a building during the rescue. Most of Nova Friburgo still without power, gas and water, while telephone networks operate at half what has hindered communications. Land access in this municipality are effectively blocked by flooding and debris that remain on the roads following landslides.

Meanwhile, in the city of Teresopolis and 161 are the deceased, while in Petrópolis are 39. This is the first crisis facing it Rousseff since taking office on January 1 and one of the biggest challenges of his first year in office due to the loss that has left millions in the storm. The Government has allocated so far 780 million reals (349 million euros) to alleviate the emergency in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro and other states such as Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo, where thousands of people have been affected.

The Armed Forces have sent two helicopters and mobile hospitals to help victims and assist in the rescue efforts that develop the fire and civil defense officials in the affected areas.

• Rio de Janeiro Mudslides, Floods Kill 349 People (13/01/2011)
• Rio de Janeiro Mudslides, Floods Kill 349 People - BusinessWeek (13/01/2011)
• You: At least 288 killed in Brazilian landslides (13/01/2011)
• Brazil Landslides Wipe Away Homes, Killing More Than 300 - Wall Street Journal (13/01/2011)
• 361 dead in Brazil floods, landslides (13/01/2011)

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