The toll of the torrential rains increases dramatically in Brazil. The bad weather that caused floods and mudslides since Tuesday in the region of Recife, in the northeast of the country, have left at least 79 dead and 56 missing, according to the latest official report published on Sunday.
The storm caused landslides on the sides of the hills, the overflow of rivers and great torrents of mud which have carried away everything in their path. During a lull, some 1,200 men, with helicopters and boats, resumed Sunday the search for missing and isolated people.
Landslide kills 19
Footage released by local authorities shows rescuers and volunteers clearing debris in Jardim Monteverde, on the border between Recife and the municipality of Jaboatao dos Guararapes. It is in this region where there are slums the biggest drama happened on Saturday morning when a landslide killed 19 people.
Between Friday evening and Saturday morning, the volume of precipitation reached 70% of what is normally expected for the whole of May in parts of Pernambuco. “Although it has stopped raining, we are expecting heavy rain in the next few days. The first thing to do is therefore to maintain self-protection measures,” said Regional Development Minister Daniel Ferreira, who flew over the disaster area along with other Brazilian officials. President Jair Bolsonaro for his part declared that he would go to Recife on Monday.
