Brazil Rains Killed Dozens; Prompt Cities To Cancel Carnival
Brazil authorities said some cities canceled their Brazil Carnival celebration as rescuers struggled to find missing and injured people in the rubble. Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Flooding and landslides triggered by heavy Brazil rains in coastal parts of the country's southeast have killed at least 24 people and uprooted hundreds of others, according to media reports on Sunday, quoting local officials.

Rescuers are still combing the area for survivors, reuniting cut-off villages, and clearing highways that have kept thousands of tourists from reaching their destinations in time for Brazil Carnival celebrations.

Rains of over 600 millimeters (23.62 inches) pummeled the shore of Brazil's richest state, Sao Paulo, causing at least 19 deaths and dislocating or displacing 566 people, according to Reuters.

Sao Paulo's coastline area is expected to receive more rain, making rescue efforts more difficult and increasing the likelihood of a larger death toll.

To aid victims, repair infrastructure, and begin reconstruction, the federal government ordered the deployment of numerous ministries.

Six cities in Sao Paulo state were put in a state of calamity for 180 days after what experts called an unprecedented, extreme weather event.

According to a local news source, operations at the largest port in South America, Santos, were halted on Saturday due to wind gusts reaching 34.18 mph and waves over one meter high.

On his social media pages, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced that he would travel to the worst-affected areas on Monday.

Cities Cancel Their Brazil's Carnival Celebration as It Impedes Rescue Operations

The severely damaged cities of Sao Sebastiao and Bertioga have canceled their Carnival celebrations as rescue workers search for the missing, injured, and presumed dead, AP reports.

The mayor of Sao Sebastiao, Felipe Augusto, stated, "Our rescue teams are not managing to get to several locations; it is a chaotic situation."

He uploaded multiple clips to YouTube and other social media sites depicting the extensive destruction in his city, including one showing a newborn being saved by residents queued up on a flooded street.

The state administration reported that the city of Bertioga received 687 millimeters of Brazil rains over that time frame.

The military has responded to a call for assistance from Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, deploying two aircraft and rescue crews to the area.

He declared a state of emergency for the municipalities of Ubatuba, São Sebastiao, Ilhabela, Caraguatatuba, and Bertioga.

Homes were completely submerged in water, with just the roofs visible in news footage.

Several locals have taken to utilizing small sailboats to transport themselves and their belongings to safer ground.

Landslides and flooding have cut off the route between Rio de Janeiro and the coastal city of Santos.

For wealthier visitors who prefer to avoid the chaotic street parties in big cities, the northern shore of Sao Paulo state is a popular Carnival resort.

Brazilians Waited So Long for Brazil's Carnival To Come Back

Rio de Janeiro postponed Carnival by two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which drew locals primarily and dampened the celebration, said NBC News.

It all kicks off on Friday, and the Brazilian government estimates that 46 million people will partake in the celebrations through the 22nd.

Such people will include those who travel to Rio, Salvador, Recife, and the increasingly popular urban Sao Paulo to experience the festivities that have made Brazil Carnival famous worldwide.

At a party in Sao Paulo on February 10, 38-year-old engineer Thiago Varella, wearing a Hawaiian shirt drenched by Brazil rains, stated, "We've waited for so long, we deserve this catharsis.

The blocos, or street parties, are highly anticipated by most visitors in Brazil. More than 600 of them have been approved by Rio, and there are likely several more that are operating illegally.

One of the significant blocos draws hundreds of thousands of people with its renditions of Beatles songs set to a Brazil Carnival beat. Last year, these big blocos were stopped.

"We want to see the partying, the colors, the people and ourselves enjoying Carnival," Chilean tourist Sofia Umaña, 28, said near Copacabana beach.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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