Flooding in Rio de Janeiro Claims More Lives

The flooding and earth slides caused by the heavy rains in Rio de Janeiro have claimed the lives of 257 civilians, while leaving over 180,000 victims of the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro. In Sao Paulo, thirteen people perished because of the flood.

In the state of Rio de Janeiro, the most affected location was Teresopolis, which is located on the north of the capital state. There over 130 people have died due to the extreme weather and its consequences. While 50 people are missing, during the last 24-hours, the rivers overflowed which caused several landslides.

In Nova Friburgo 168 people have drowned, and 35 civilians perished in Petropolis. The Teresopolis Mayor, Jorge Mario Sedlacek declared his city a natural disaster area.

It has been raining since January 1, and forecasters informed that the deluge could prolong until the end of the week. “We don’t know what to do against such terrible thing,” pointed out the Governor of the Rio de Janeiro state, Sergio Cabral, who recently asked the Armed Forces for help.