Richard Davies Floodlist Mon, 21 Feb 2022 14:24 UTC
One person is missing after flash floods swept through areas of San Pablo in in the department of Nariño, Colombia.
Heavy rain fell from around 18 February 2022, affecting the municipalities of Santacruz, Túquerres, Los Andes and San Pablo.
One person was reported missing after being swept away by the overflow of the La Brisa stream in San Pablo. The municipal government said small landslides were also reported in the area. Roads have been blocked and drinking water supply interrupted in the area.
Richard Davies Floodlist Mon, 21 Feb 2022 11:02 UTC
Heavy rain and flash flooding caused severe damage in Gauteng Province, South Africa. One person died and 3 people are reported missing.
Flooding struck areas of Ivory Park close to the Kaalspruit river in Tembisa (also Thembisa) north east of Johannesburg late on 18 February 2022. Damage to houses left at least 187 people homeless. Local authorities said the victims would be moved to temporary shelters.
Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse visited affected areas on 19 February. The mayor said Search and Rescue teams were deployed after learning that there were four people missing. "Regrettably one body was recovered this morning. The family were informed, and subsequently identified the deceased. On behalf of the City, I convey my condolences to the family. The Search and Rescue Teams are continuing the search for the remaining three people," the mayor added.
City and Provincial Disaster Management teams, charities and NGOs are all working in the area to provide relief and shelter for the victims.
At least 18 people have died in mudslides and floods after a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro saw almost a month's worth of rain fall in just three hours.
The state fire department said more than 180 soldiers were involved in a rescue mission in the city of Petropolis where 25.8cm (just over 10in) fell on Tuesday - close to the same quantity that fell during the previous 30 days combined.
Footage posted on social media showed cars and houses being dragged away by landslides and water swirling through the city and neighbouring districts.
The death toll from devastating mudslides and floods that swept through a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state has reached 38, local authorities said Wednesday.
The city of Petropolis was slammed by a deluge on Tuesday, and Mayor Rubens Bomtempo said the number of dead could rise as searchers picked through the wreckage.
Rosilene Virgilio, 49, was in tears as she recalled the pleas for help from a woman she couldn't save.
"Yesterday there was a woman screaming, 'Help! Get me out of here!' But we couldn't do anything; the water was gushing out, the mud was gushing out," Virgilio told The Associated Press. "Our city unfortunately is finished."
Petropolis is a German-influenced city named for former emperor Dom Pedro I. Nestled in the mountains above the coastal metropolis, for almost two centuries it has been a refuge for people escaping summer heat and tourists keen to explore Brazil's "Imperial City." It features stately mansions along its waterways, but its mountainsides are covered with homes packed tightly together, some of which lack proper foundations.
Gov. Claudio Castro said that he was mustering all the state government's heavy machinery to help dig out the buried area. He told journalists that soldiers were already working in the stricken region, which saw almost more than 900 deaths from heavy rainfall in January 2011.
The state fire department said late Tuesday the area got 25.8 centimeters (just over 10 inches) of rain within three hours Tuesday -- almost as much as during the previous 30 days combined.
Video posted on social media showed cars and houses being dragged away by landslides, and water swirling through Petropolis and neighboring districts. The Globo television network showed houses buried beneath mud in areas firefighters hadn't yet been able to access.
Several streets remained inaccessible Wednesday as cars and household goods piled up, blocking access to higher parts of the city.
"The neighbors came down running and I gave them shelter," bar owner Emerson Torre, 39, recalled.
But under torrents of water, his roof collapsed. He managed to get his mother and three other people out of the bar in time, but one neighbor and the person's daughter were unable to escape.
"It was like an avalanche, it fell all at once. I've never seen anything like it," Torre told the AP as rescue helicopters hovered overhead. "Every neighbor has lost a loved one, has lost two, three, four members of the same family, kids."
Petropolis' city hall declared three days of mourning. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on a trip to Russia, said on Twitter that he instructed his ministers to deliver immediate support to the afflicted.
"May God comfort the family members of the victims," he wrote.
Southeastern Brazil has been punished with heavy rains since the start of the year, with more than 40 deaths recorded between incidents in Minas Gerais state in early January and Sao Paulo state later the same month.
Update:The Guardian has this AP report on February 17th:
Devastating floods and mudslides leave at least 94 dead in Brazil
At least 94 people have died after heavy rains sent devastating mudslides and floods through a mountainous region of Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state.
Petrópolis, the "imperial city" which was the summer getaway of Brazil's monarchs in the 19th century, was directly in the path of the deluge when it hit on Tuesday.
The city's mayor, Rubens Bomtempo, said the number of dead could keep on rising as searchers picked through the wreckage. Twenty-one people had been recovered alive.
Rio de Janeiro state governor, Claudio Castro, told reporters in Petrópolis: "The situation is almost like war ... Cars hanging from poles, cars overturned, lots of mud and water."
Civilians joined the official recovery efforts on Wednesday. Among them were Priscila Neves and her siblings, who looked through the mud for any sign of their disappeared parents, but found only clothing. Neves said she had given up hope of finding her parents alive.
Rosilene Virgilio, 49, was in tears as she recalled the pleas for help from a woman she couldn't save.
"Yesterday there was a woman screaming, Help! Get me out of here!' But we couldn't do anything; the water was gushing out, the mud was gushing out," Virgilio told the Associated Press. "Our city unfortunately is finished."
Governor Cláudio Castro said that he was mustering all the state government's heavy machinery to help dig out the buried area. He told journalists that soldiers were already working in the stricken region, which saw about 900 deaths from heavy rainfall in January 2011.
The state fire department said late on Tuesday the area received 25.8cm (just over 10in) of rain within three hours on Tuesday - almost as much as during the previous 30 days combined.
Video posted on social media showed cars and houses being dragged away by landslides, and water swirling through Petrópolis and neighboring districts. The Globo television network showed houses buried beneath mud in areas firefighters had not yet been able to access.
Several streets remained inaccessible on Wednesday as cars and household goods piled up, blocking access to higher parts of the city.
"The neighbors came down running and I gave them shelter," bar owner Emerson Torre, 39, recalled.
But under torrents of water, his roof collapsed. He managed to get his mother and three other people out of the bar in time, but one neighbor and the person's daughter were unable to escape.
"It was like an avalanche, it fell all at once. I've never seen anything like it," Torre told the AP as rescue helicopters hovered overhead. "Every neighbor has lost a loved one, has lost two, three, four members of the same family, kids."
Petrópolis city hall declared three days of mourning. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on a trip to Russia, said on Twitter that he instructed his ministers to deliver immediate support to the afflicted. "May God comfort the family members of the victims," he wrote.
South-eastern Brazil has been punished with heavy rains since the start of the year, with more than 40 deaths recorded between incidents in Minas Gerais state in early January and São Paulo state later the same month.
Brazilian flooding, landslide death toll rises to over 150
The death toll from landslides and floods that occurred Tuesday in the city of Petropolis in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state has risen to 152, with 165 people still unaccounted for as of Saturday night, local media Globo reported.
Several hills collapsed during the heavy rains, carrying away homes and vehicles as residents continue to dig through the mud to search for their missing loved ones.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro flew over the region on Friday and described what he saw as a "war scene."
In the heart of the disaster zone, rescue workers occasionally blew loud whistles to call for silence and listen for signs of life.
But authorities say there is little hope of finding survivors at this point.
A Globo's report said the rescue operations are understaffed and lack adequate equipment. Only 110 firefighters are searching on-site now, wildly short of the about 500 personnel the local government has previously announced.
The 555 firefighters only joined the search in Petropolis on Wednesday, it said.
According to the local authorities, only 24 people have been rescued alive so far. But that came mostly in the early hours after the tragedy.
Richard Davies Floodlist Sat, 19 Feb 2022 18:23 UTC
The National Office for Disaster Management (BNGRC) in Madagascar reports that at least 6 people have lost their lives after the passage of Tropical Storm Dumako across the country. Meanwhile yet another storm is forecast to hit Madagascar's shores some time next week.
Tropical Storm Dumako made landfall over the Soanierana Ivongo District in Analanjirofo Region on 15 February 2022. As of 17 February BNGRC reported 6 fatalities (1 in Soanierana Ivongo and 5 in Anosibe An'Ala).
Storm and wind damage was reported in Soanierana Ivongo, Sainte Marie and Fenerive Est in Analanjirofo region, and in Anosibe An'Ala in Alaotra Mangoro region. Flooding was reported areas of Atsinanana Region, mostly around Toamasina.
Disaster authorities in Indonesia report widespread flooding in Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan Province from 12 February 2022.
Indonesia's National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) said flooding affected 6 villages in Simpang Hulu district. Flood waters were up to 1.2 metres deep in some areas. BNPB said 4,679 households were affected, totalling 16,811 people. A school and public buildings and facilities were also damaged. There were no reports of evacuations or fatalities.
Hundreds of families have evacuated their homes after flooding in Atlántida department on the north Caribbean coast of Honduras.
Yellow alerts were issued on 14 February 2022 for heavy rainfall in Cortés, Atlántida and Islas de la Bahía.
The Leán river broke its banks in Arizona municipality in Atlántida, completely blocking the CA 13 road between Tela and La Ceiba. Furthermore flooding damaged or threatened around 500 homes in the area and at least 300 families were evacuated according to local authorities. Flooding also affected some neighbourhoods in the city of Tela where 110 families were evacuated.
Richard Davies Floodlist Mon, 14 Feb 2022 15:31 UTC
Rains in Muscat
Heavy rain has caused flash flooding in Oman, prompting several flood rescues. Police reported one person has died after a vehicle was trapped in flood water.
According to local media quoting the Royal Oman Police (ROP), the fatality occurred on 13 February 2022 in Muttrah in the Muscat Governorate of Oman. Flooding also damaged homes in Muttrah after a wadi overflowed. Some people took refuge on the roofs of houses and were later rescued by police.
Other areas of the governorate also experienced flooding. The country's Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) said teams rescued around 30 people who were trapped in their vehicles in flooded areas.
Baushar in Muscat Governorate recorded 45 mm of rain from 13 to 14 February, while Nakhal in Al Batinah South Governorate recorded 55 mm.
A series of storms in bordering parts of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro states in Brazil caused flooding over recent days which has affected over 15,000 people and left hundreds homeless.
Rio de Janeiro
Among the hardest hit areas is the municipality of Miracema in northwestern Rio de Janeiro. Heavy rain fell on 08 February triggering floods and landslides. As of 11 February 15,000 people were affected and 1,400 displaced. The municipal government declared a state of emergency and said authorities will continue to monitor affected areas and provide aid and relief supplies to victims.
In nearby Laje do Muriaé, the Muriaé River broke its banks on 10 February causing widespread flooding. As of 11 February, the river stood at 6.46 metres, well above major flood stage of 5.6 metres. The government of Laje do Muriaé reported that 900 people were affected and around 500 displaced.
As many as 121 people have now lost their lives in Madagascar since Tropical Cyclone Batsirai swept over the country from 05 February 2022.
Batsirai made landfall near Mananjary as a category 3 storm on 05 February 2022. Sustained winds of 165 km/h and gusts up to 230 km/h caused catastrophic damage. The wind damage was particularly severe around Mananjary City, where homes were flattened and roofs ripped off buildings.
Damage to infrastructure, roads and bridges made some areas inaccessible for days after the storm. Local authorities have since been able to carry out fuller damage assessments, allowing a clearer picture of the extent of the damage. Much of the initial damage was caused by the powerful winds. Updated damage assessments along with satellite images also show major flooding, in particular in Haute Matsiatra, Vatovavy and Fitovinany Regions.
Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is as follows. You open the newspaper to an article on some subject you know well... You read the article and see the journalist has absolutely no understanding of either the facts or the issues. Often, the article is so wrong it actually presents the story backward—reversing cause and effect...
In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story, and then turn the page to national or international affairs, and read as if the rest of the newspaper was somehow more accurate about Palestine than the baloney you just read. You turn the page, and forget what you know.
- Michael Crichton
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Comment: ABC News has this updated AP report: Update:The Guardian has this AP report on February 17th: Update 2: CGTN reports on February 20: