The Governor of Sao Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas, has declared a state of emergency in five coastal towns after torrential rain caused deadly flooding and landslides. The worst affected was Sao Sebastiao, located 200km north of the city of Sao Paulo, where a record 600mm of rain fell in 24 hours. At least 24 people have been killed and 566 displaced or made homeless.
The devastation in Sao Sebastiao is immense, with entire neighbourhoods submerged in water and debris from hillside houses swept away by mud. Television and social media footage show flooded highways and cars destroyed by fallen trees. Mayor Felipe Augusto described the situation as “extremely critical”, with firefighters working on the scene and the aid of helicopters.
Carnival events have been cancelled in Sao Sebastiao and neighbouring Bertioga, while the port of Santos, South America’s largest, has been interrupted due to gusts of wind and waves of more than one metre high. The federal government has mobilised several ministries to assist victims, restore infrastructure and start reconstruction work.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said he will visit the main affected areas on Monday and that government at all levels will work to “take care of the injured, look for missing people and restore roads, energy and telecommunications”. Weather forecasts show heavy rains will continue in Sao Paulo’s coastal area, raising the prospect of a higher death toll.