According to the State Gov. Sergio Cabral at least 13 people died in a powerful storm that down poured the hilly portion of the southeastern Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro.
Moreover the official said on Monday that among the victims are two Civil Defense personnel in the city of Petropolis who were buried by a landslide as they were trying to help people affected by the rains while most of the other reported victims were in homes that were buried by some of the 21 other landslides registered in different parts of Petropolis, a city of 300,000 located about 70 km from the city of Rio de Janeiro and one of the region's main urban centers.
Storm Paralyzed Brazil...
Authorities fear that the toll could rise because additional landslides have been continuing to occur in Petropolis as well as in nearby cities like Duque de Caxias and Xerem and in the towns of Mangaratiba, Niteroi and Angra dos Reis, but the most serious situation was in Petropolis. In fact, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, a low pressure area bringing rain and heavy winds Sunday night paralyzed the metropolis and left several neighbourhoods without electric power.
To say more, additionally at least 12 rivers overflowed in Rio de Janeiro state and the rains caused landslides that covered several regional highways.
A great disaster in Petropolis …
According to the state government, more rain fell in Petropolis in a 24-hour period than had been expected for the entire month of March, traditionally a fairly rainy month while Cabral, who traveled to Petropolis, says that at least 140 families with 325 children among them were taken to shelters because their homes are located in high-risk areas.
Cabral added that they repeat their request that people who live in high-risk areas go to the shelters, at least until the state of maximum alert is lifted and things get's back to normalize.
It's really shocking but at the same time we all know that no one has control over the nature.
May God bless them!
(AW:Samrat Biswas)
