SAO PAULO: The death toll from heavy rains that devastated coastal areas of Brazil's southeastern Sao Paulo state rose to 46 people on Tuesday, according to officials, with more precipitation expected.
Massive rainfalls over the weekend have caused landslides and flooding in coastal towns in the southeast of the country. Almost 2,500 people are still displaced or homeless, the Sao Paulo state government said in a statement, adding that rescue work is ongoing.
The city of Sao Sebastiao bore the brunt of the human toll, with 45 of the reported deaths.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva flew over the city alongside cabinet ministers on Monday, pledging to rebuild the town of some 91,000 people by constructing new houses in safer places.
More rain is forecast for the city in the coming days. The Sao Sebastiao government said that by Friday another 200 millimeters (nearly 8 inches) of rain are expected to hit the region and warned of further risks of landslides and flooding.
Since the weekend, the coastal area of the country's wealthiest state was hit by more than 600 millimeters (23.6 inches) of rain, which the government said was the highest cumulative figure ever in Brazil.
The floods in coastal Sao Paulo state were the latest in a series of such disasters to recently strike Brazil, where shoddy construction, often on hillsides, can have tragic consequences during the country's rainy season.
Sao Paulo state Governor Tarcisio de Freitas said the Navy would build a field hospital for victims starting on Thursday.
"There will be up to 300 beds in the infirmary, with orthopedic, clinical, trauma, and psychiatric professionals," said Freitas.
The deluge happened as tourists thronged to Brazil's beaches during the annual Carnival holiday, likely making the human toll much worse.
Reuters
Wed Feb 22 2023
A car covered with mud is seen as a woman looks from inside her house in one of the landslides sites after severe rainfall at Barra do Sahy in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, February 21, 2023. - REUTERS
Pengguna Facebook, Instagram luang 60% masa menonton video
Menurut Meta, kini pengguna meluangkan 60% daripada masa penggunaan di platform berkenaan dengan menonton video.
Rumah kebajikan warga emas dipukul tidak berdaftar - Nancy
Rumah kebajikan dihuni warga emas yang dipukul dengan kayu di Taman Desa Aman, Padang Serai, Kedah didapati tidak berdaftar dengan JKM.
Pasangan beregu badminton Soon Huat-Shevon kongsi gambar praperkahwinan
Pasangan beregu campuran negara, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, hari ini berkongsi gambar praperkahwinan mereka, yang dijangka akan dilangsungkan tidak lama lagi.
Kementerian Perpaduan lancar Inisiatif Harmoni Madani
Kementerian Perpaduan Negara hari ini melancarkan Inisiatif Harmoni Madani.
Kes 1MDB: Najib percaya Blackstone dikawal Arab Saudi, Raja Abdullah - Saksi
Saksi memberitahu Najib percaya bahawa syarikat Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners dikawal oleh kerajaan Arab Saudi dan Raja Arab Saudi.
Apple dalam perbincangan guna teknologi OpenAI dalam iOS 18 - Laporan
iOS 18 akan membawakan perubahan paling besar untuk sistem operasi iPhone tahun ini dan integrasi sistem AI akan akhirnya didedahkan.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: BN pamer komitmen tinggi pastikan kemenangan calon - Loke
BN menunjukkan komitmen tinggi dalam memastikan kemenangan calon PH, pada PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Empat maut, dua pacuan empat roda bertembung
Empat individu maut dalam kemalangan melibatkan dua pacuan empat roda di Kilometer 78, Jalan Kota Bharu-Gua Musang tengah malam tadi.
Uqasha Senrose selamat bersalin, beri nama anak Uqaira
Pelakon Uqasha Senrose mengumumkan telah selamat melahirkan puteri sulungnya pada awal pagi Sabtu.
Thomas Cup: Permulaan cemerlang buat Malaysia
Malaysia bermula cemerlang pada perlawanan pembukaan Piala Thomas 2024, dengan menewaskan Hong Kong 5-0 hari ini.