Severe weather has hit in 2 separate areas of Brazil in the last few days. Flooding and landslides in Bahia, in Brazil’s north east resulted in the deaths of as many as 16 people.
A massive storm with winds of around 100 kph and heavy rainfall struck in the state of Rio de Janeiro on the night of 5 and 6 December.
The torrential rainfall and strong winds led to the deaths of 4 people. Wide areas of the city of Rio de Janeiro, as well as some neighbouring towns and communities, were flooded and without power. There have also been reports of some landslides in hilly regions, particularly on the north side of the city.
Many communities living in shanty towns of Rio were evacuated as a precaution.
In Nova Iguaçu, a neighbouring city that lies to the north west of Rio, declared a state of emergency. As many as 23 families were made homeless as a result of the floods and storm. One of the 4 victims of the floods was killed in Nova Iguaçu after a house collapsed as a result of a landslide. Other victims died in Rio de Janeiro or its suburbs. One was struck by lightening, another electrocuted and the third died in when she was struck by a falling tree.
There were also reports of landslides in Anchieta and Petropolis, where people were injured but there were no casualties. In Tijuca, a neighbourhood to the north of Rio, saw the highest amount of rainfall in the last 10 years, recording 92mm in just 1 hour on Thursday 5 December. In the city of Bom Jesus Itabapoana, there were concerns over the river levels of the Itabapoana River.
Sources: Portal Regional; UoL; Globo; Wikipedia
