The death toll from floods and landslides in the Brazilian city of metropolis, has risen to 94. Extreme levels of flood danger were announced in the mountainous tourist city of metropolis, north of Rio de Janeiro, on Tuesday.
Floods and landslides have destroyed homes in the area. City roads have also been washed away. Vehicles on the road were seen floating in the water. In such a situation, the mayor of the city has declared a state of emergency. Search and rescue teams are trying to rescue survivors trapped in the mud.
Brazil's civil defense tweeted that 24 people had been rescued so far, with 94 dead.
Wendell P. Lorenzo, 24, a resident of the town, was going to a local church to seek refuge. "I saw a baby girl lying on the ground," she told AFP. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on an official visit to Russia, said he had ordered immediate assistance to those affected.
More than 160 troops have been deployed in the city of Metropolis. A special team of rescuers could reach the area on Wednesday, local time. At least 60 houses are estimated to have been damaged in one of the worst-hit areas of the city.
The popular tourist city of metropolis, was once the summer residence of Brazil's powerful men. But because of the location, the city is extremely vulnerable to landslides.
More than 900 people were killed in landslides in 2011 in metropolis, and nearby cities. At least 14 people have been killed in a landslide in the Latin American country of Colombia. 34 people were injured. The landslide occurred after heavy rains on Tuesday, local time, in Colombia. The news agency AFP quoted the country's national disaster agency as saying.
The landslide occurred on a hill in the province on Tuesday morning. A part of the hill collapsed in the surrounding area. Carlos Maya, a local official, told AFP that "we have confirmed that 14 people were killed and 34 injured in the landslide."
Rescuers are working to make sure no one is still alive, according to the national unit of the country's risk and disaster management department.
"We were frightened by the loud noise," Hernandez, a 42-year-old taxi driver, told AFP. I came out and saw a piece of hill lying on top of the houses. I went to see that place. Hernandez said he had assisted in rescuing two bodies and one survivor. He said at least five houses were buried under the ground.
Rescuers fear that if a new landslide occurs, it could fall into the nearby ATU River. This will further aggravate the disaster situation. Several families living along the river have been evacuated due to the risk of floods.
Alvaro Arias, a government official stationed in the area, told Blue Radio: We are now focusing on evacuating everyone safely. Because, the instability of the soil is still there. Floods and landslides following heavy rains have killed at least 16 people in a mountainous tourist town of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, local time on Tuesday. News AFP
The Rio de Janeiro Fire Department said in a statement that floods and landslides had killed at least 18 people in recent hours.
You must be logged in to post a comment.