Teresopolis is among three towns hit hard by
flash floods and mudslides in Brazil's Rio de
Janeiro state. (Antonio Lacerda, EPA / January 11,
2011)
From Sao Paulo, Brazil, and San Agustin,
Colombia — Emergency crews were working
feverishly to reach survivors of flash floods and
mudslides in Brazil that have killed at least 470
people and left nearly 14,000 homeless after
torrential summer rains, authorities said
Thursday.
Massive mudslides in the heavily damaged
mountainous area north of the city of Rio de
Janeiro could take until Saturday to clear,
increasing fears of a rising death toll as rain
remained in the forecast, authorities said.
Many residents were without electricity. Roads
were blocked.
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Cmdr. Jose Paulo Miranda of the Rio de Janeiro
state fire department said hundreds of rescuers
were doing whatever possible to reach victims,
including using heavy equipment to clear debris.
"The aftermath of the rains was disastrous,"
Miranda said. "We have many slides, too much
mud and lots of destroyed houses."
Officials said hundreds of people were killed in
three Rio state towns after slides occurred about 3
a.m. Wednesday. The state's civil defense
department reported numerous deaths in Nova
Friburgo, Teresopolis and Petropolis.
Aerial television footage showed much of Nova
Friburgo covered in mud and detritus. Three
firefighters involved in the rescue operation
drowned when their car was overtaken by flash
floods.
President Dilma Rousseff observed the region by
helicopter Thursday and promised "firm action"
to bring relief and reconstruction aid to victims.
The government pledged more than $400 million
in assistance for the area.
Flooding in southeastern Brazil since late
December had already killed many people,
officials said. The annual rainy summer season
can be especially devastating to the poor, who
often live in modest homes perched on steep
hillsides.
Officials said the area hit by mudslides this week
experienced more than 10 inches of rain in less
than 24 hours. More rain was expected through
the weekend.
City, state and federal officials all blamed lax
government safety measures for contributing to
the heavy toll in the area around Rio de Janeiro.
"There has been permissiveness for decades
about building houses on steep slopes," Sergio
Cabral, governor of Rio de Janeiro state, told a
radio reporter. "If rigid standards were applied,
we'd still have victims, but not a [death] toll that's
approaching 500."
Source: Http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-brazil-floods-20110114,0,4322044.story
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