Rio De Janeiro Flood,
Mudslides Kill Over 100
Not
less than 100 people have been killed in the Brazilian state of
Rio de Janeiro, after twenty-eight centimeter rain considered as
most heavy in decades caused landslides and flooding.
State Governor Sergio Cabral has declared a state of emergency
and urged people in high-risk areas to leave their homes, as
staying inside would be ‘irresponsible’ given the risk of new
landslides.
The Mishap
Authorities say Rio de Janeiro's transport system is close to
collapsing, after traffic ground to a halt with many streets
under water.
The Governor said the preparedness for heavy rainfall in
Brazil's second-largest city - which will host the 2014 World
Cup and 2016 Olympic Games - was ‘less than zero’.
Although the rain has stopped, the situation has made many to
abandon their cars on the main roads throughout the city and has
also forced public schools to remain closed until at least
Friday.
Many houses in Rio's hillside shanty towns were buried under
mudslides.
Mayor Eduardo da Costa Peas in a statement said that the
situation was chaotic, as all the major streets of the city were
closed because of the floods.
He warned that anyone who attempts to enter them will be at
enormous risk.
Rescue efforts
Thirty-three of the dead persons died in Rio de Janeiro city
while thirty-three were killed in the neighbouring city of
Niteroi, after the rain fell for twenty-four hours.
Rescue teams have been scouring the city's hillsides to find
missing people and recover bodies buried under the mud.
With no let-up in the rain, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
has urged residents to leave their homes if they are at risk of
flooding.
Otherwise, the authorities have told people to stay indoors and
avoid travelling around the city.
President Lula, who visited the city on Tuesday, blamed local
officials for not enforcing adequate building standards in areas
prone to landslides, particularly in shantytowns.
He urged everyone to pray to God to hold back the rains to
enable the government rehabilitate the city. The president said
the work would include improved drainage systems.
BBC/Williams/Yinka
