Heavy rain causes floods and landslides in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 31 inches of rainfall in 48 hours - 16 killed (UPDATES)

Chave Weather
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Fri, 01 Apr 2022 09:49 UTC

Looking at the impact of heavy rain on Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on March 31st and April 1st 2022.

Heavy overnight rain caused flash floods that filled streets as drain systems were overwhelmed.

A level 4 alert was raised as homes were flooded, destroying possessions. Power and gas supplies were turned off with warning sirens sounded.

Roads were closed with traffic stopped as roads became impassable. As flood waters subsided, streets were filled with debris and garbage.

In rural areas in Rio de Janeiro state, floods and landslides were seen, including in the town of Parati, where roads were closed after a landslide.

Comment: Update 2 April

AFP reports:

Brazil: Floods and landslides kill eight, 13 missing

Two days of heavy rain trigger flash floods and landslides across Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state.

Torrential rains have triggered flash floods and landslides across Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state, killing at least eight people including six children and leaving 13 missing, authorities said on Saturday.

Two days of heavy rain have battered a broad swath of the southeastern state's Atlantic coast, the latest in a series of deadly storms in Brazil that experts have said are being aggravated by climate change.

The latest floods and landslides come six weeks after flash floods and landslides killed 233 people in the scenic city of Petropolis, the Brazilian empire's 19th-century summer capital, also in Rio state.

This time, the areas hit hardest included the tourist town of Paraty, a seaside colonial city known for its picturesque cobblestone streets and colourful houses.

Officials on Saturday there said a landslide in the Ponta Negra neighbourhood had killed a mother and five of her children, ages two, five, eight, 10 and 15.

A sixth child was rescued alive and taken to the hospital, they said.

In all, seven houses were swept away in landslides in the city, and another four people injured. Seventy-one families were forced from their homes, officials said.

Two more victims were killed in the cities of Mesquita and Angra dos Reis, where another 13 people remain missing, said Congressman Marcelo Freixo, who represents the state of 17.5 million people.

In Angra, the victim was a four-year-old girl buried in a landslide, while in Mesquita, 40km (25 miles) northwest of Rio de Janeiro city, a 38-year-old man was electrocuted trying to help another person escape the flooding, media reports said.

The storms turned streets into rivers in several cities on Friday night, sweeping up cars and triggering landslides - a frequent tragedy in the rainy season, especially in poor hillside communities.

Officials in Angra said the city had received 655 millimetres (26 inches) of rain in 48 hours, "levels never before registered in the municipality".

The federal government said it had sent military aircraft to help the local rescue effort, and dispatched national disaster response secretary Alexandre Lucas to the state.

Update 3 April

Floodlist reports:

At least 16 people have lost their lives after record rainfall of over 800 mm in 48 hours triggered flash floods and landslides in Baixada Fluminense and Costa Verde regions of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

© Corpo de Bombeiros Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Landslide in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 2022.

The tourist town of Paraty in the south western corner of the state was one of the worst affected areas. Local officials reported that a landslide in the Ponta Negra neighbourhood destroyed 7 houses, burying at least 8 residents from the same family. As of 02 April, 7 people had died in the incident with one person rescued alive.

Paraty's Municipal Department of Social Assistance said it had helped 219 affected families in 22 neighbourhoods. Around 71 families had been displaced and move to temporary shelters, including in municipal schools. The municipality declared a State of Public Calamity on 02 April 2022.

Parts of neighbouring municipality of municipality of Angra dos Reis saw a record 809 mm of rain in 48 hours to 02 April 2022. Floods and landslides have caused severe damage and fatalities and the municipality also declared a State of Public Calamity on 02 April 2022.

As of 03 April, Brazil's National Civil Defence reported 8 fatalities and 3 people missing in Angra dos Reis. Fire fighters have rescued 5 people. A total of 181 people have moved from their homes to temporary accommodation.

Local media also reported a weather-related fatality in Mesquita, 40km northwest of Rio de Janeiro city, where a man was electrocuted in flood waters whilst trying to help another person. Municipal authorities said the cause of death was still being investigated. Roads have been closed and homes damaged by floods landslides. Authorities have assisted dozens of affected families. Mesquita recorded 266 mm of rain in about six hours on 02 April, officials said.

Over 230 people lost their lives in two spates of floods and landslides in Petrópolis in the Fluminense Mountain Region of the state State in February and March this year.