Brazil flooding claims more than 120 lives
By the CNN Wire Staff
January 12, 2011 -- Updated 1910 GMT (0310 HKT)
At least 24 people died in floods caused by torrential rains that
have battered Brazil nearly nonstop since January 1
(CNN) -- Heavy rains and flooding in Brazil have been blamed
for 123 deaths in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo,
officials said Wednesday.
The greatest damage was in a cluster of towns in a
mountainous area northeast of the city of Rio from
Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, where civil
defense officials said 99 lost their lives.
That included, in Teresopolis, 71 people reported
killed by a mudslide, the state-run Agencia Brasil
news agency reported, citing municipal authorities.
Some 1,000 others were left without shelter and
were being moved to a local gym and schools.
And, in nearby Petropolis, 18 deaths were recorded,
the state government said, according to Agencia
Brasil. And in Nova Friburgo, also in the area,
there were seven deaths. Among the victims in Rio
state were three firefighters who were involved in
rescue operations when they were buried by a
subsequent mudslide, Agencia Brasil reported.
A fourth firefighter remained missing.
Nearly 75,000 people were without power in the
region as a results of the heavy storms.
Teresopolis Mayor Jorge Mario Sedlacek declared his
city a natural disaster area. He told CNN affiliate
TV Globo that at least 80 rescuers have been sent to the region.
Meanwhile, in the state of Sao Paulo, at least 24 people were
killed as heavy rains continued to batter parts of the state, authorities said.
It has been raining since January 1, and the deluge could
continue until the end of the week, forecasters have said.
The flooding has caused mudslides, officials said Tuesday.
The Mairipora Dam gave way, adding to the woes in the area,
said Ramos Junior, a captain at the Sao Paulo Civil Fire Department.
Sao Jose dos Campos, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the city
of Sao Paulo, has been hardest hit by the flooding, Junior said
In January last year, heavy rains caused dozens of deaths in Brazil's
southeast coast. Torrential rains caused deadly mudslides in the
resort area of the town of Angra dos Reis.
By the CNN Wire Staff
January 12, 2011 -- Updated 1910 GMT (0310 HKT)
At least 24 people died in floods caused by torrential rains that
have battered Brazil nearly nonstop since January 1
(CNN) -- Heavy rains and flooding in Brazil have been blamed
for 123 deaths in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo,
officials said Wednesday.
The greatest damage was in a cluster of towns in a
mountainous area northeast of the city of Rio from
Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, where civil
defense officials said 99 lost their lives.
That included, in Teresopolis, 71 people reported
killed by a mudslide, the state-run Agencia Brasil
news agency reported, citing municipal authorities.
Some 1,000 others were left without shelter and
were being moved to a local gym and schools.
And, in nearby Petropolis, 18 deaths were recorded,
the state government said, according to Agencia
Brasil. And in Nova Friburgo, also in the area,
there were seven deaths. Among the victims in Rio
state were three firefighters who were involved in
rescue operations when they were buried by a
subsequent mudslide, Agencia Brasil reported.
A fourth firefighter remained missing.
Nearly 75,000 people were without power in the
region as a results of the heavy storms.
Teresopolis Mayor Jorge Mario Sedlacek declared his
city a natural disaster area. He told CNN affiliate
TV Globo that at least 80 rescuers have been sent to the region.
Meanwhile, in the state of Sao Paulo, at least 24 people were
killed as heavy rains continued to batter parts of the state, authorities said.
It has been raining since January 1, and the deluge could
continue until the end of the week, forecasters have said.
The flooding has caused mudslides, officials said Tuesday.
The Mairipora Dam gave way, adding to the woes in the area,
said Ramos Junior, a captain at the Sao Paulo Civil Fire Department.
Sao Jose dos Campos, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the city
of Sao Paulo, has been hardest hit by the flooding, Junior said
In January last year, heavy rains caused dozens of deaths in Brazil's
southeast coast. Torrential rains caused deadly mudslides in the
resort area of the town of Angra dos Reis.
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