SAO PAULO (AP) — Heavy rains caused flooding and landslides that killed 36 people in Brazil’s northern state of Sao Paulo, authorities said Sunday. The death toll is expected to rise.
The Sao Paulo state government said in a statement that 35 people died in the city of Sao Sebastiao and a 7-year-old girl lost her life in the nearby town of Ubatuba.
The cities of Sao Sebastiao, Ubatuba, Ilhabela and Bertioga, among the most affected and in a state of disaster, have canceled their carnival celebrations as rescue teams work to find the missing, injured and feared dead among the rubble.
“Our rescue teams cannot reach several places, it is a chaotic situation,” Sao Sebastiao mayor Felipe Augusto said, adding later that dozens of people are missing and 50 houses have collapsed in the area. town because of avalanches.
Augusto posted several videos of the widespread destruction of his town on social media, including that of a baby being rescued by residents lined up in a flooded street.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tweeted that he would visit the region on Monday.
The Sao Paulo state government said in a statement that rainfall in the region exceeded 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) in one day, one of the highest amounts ever recorded in Brazil in such a short time. time.
Only Bertioga recorded 68 centimeters during this period, according to the state government.
Governor Tarcisio de Freitas said he asked for help from the military, which sent two planes and rescue teams to the area.
Television images showed flooded houses with only the roof visible. Residents use small boats to transport objects and people to higher positions. A highway linking Rio de Janeiro to the port city of Santos has been blocked by landslides and flooding.
The northern coast of Sao Paulo state is a frequent carnival destination for wealthy tourists who prefer to stay away from the huge street parties of the big cities.