“It is a war scenario”: at least 38 dead due to heavy rains and landslides in Petrópolis, Brazil | VIDEOS

The death toll from a storm in the Brazilian city of Petrópolis, in the state of Rio de Janeiroincreased to 38 this Wednesday, while the city evaluated the “scenario of war” caused in a few hours by heavy rains.

So far, “38 deaths” have been counted, “229 incidents, of which 189 were due to landslides,” said Civil Defense, after the storm that occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the old imperial city, located 68 km north of Rio.

By Tuesday night, authorities had reported 18 deaths.

Rescue teams are working on the spot to help those affected by landslides and floods, AFP journalists confirmed.

in the streets of Petrópolismany neighbors described a “scene of war”.

Wendel Pio Lourenço, a 24-year-old resident, was walking with a television in his arms towards a nearby church in search of shelter. Without sleeping since yesterday, he collaborated in the rescues and tried to save some belongings. “I found a girl alive who was buried,” he told AFP.

Until now, it is estimated that some 80 homes have been affected in the town of Morro da Oficina and in another six areas damage was recorded, the municipal authorities estimated in a note.

Some 300 people are being treated mainly in schools, the local government added.

Some 400 soldiers work in relief tasks at the scene together with Civil Defense teams and firefighters, with 4×4 vehicles, boats and a dozen aircraft, sources from the state fire force informed AFP.

Brazil In the last three months, it has experienced episodes of intense rains, especially in the states of Bahia (northeast) and Minas Gerais (southeast), which have left dozens dead and caused damage to hundreds of municipalities.

Scientists argue that due to climate change, extreme weather events will become more and more frequent.

Petrópolis, summer resort of the former Brazilian Imperial Court, is a tourist town of about 300,000 inhabitants that attracts a large number of tourists in search of history, nature walks and a milder climate compared to coastal Rio de Janeiro, due to its elevation.

In January 2011, more than 900 people died in the mountainous region of Rio state due to heavy rains, which caused floods and landslides in a vast area, including Petrópolis and its neighbors Nova Friburgo, Itaipava and Teresópolis.