Brazil floods death toll rises to 106

June 1, 2022 09:00

At least 106 people have died and 10 are still missing, the Brazilian government said, as torrential rains pounded the country’s northeast for the sixth consecutive day.

The governor of the northeastern state of Pernambuco, Paulo Camara, said in an interview with local media that the government’s priority is to find the missing amid mudslides and massive floods.

The National Civil Defense said on Twitter that a warning of “extremely high” possibility of more flooding had been issued in Pernambuco, including in its capital, Recife.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited the state on Tuesday and inspected the affected areas, promising to send aid to the affected families.

This is the fourth major flood to hit the country in five months, highlighting poor planning in low-income neighborhoods in much of Brazil, where shantytowns are often built on collapsing hillsides.

In late December and early January, dozens of people were killed and tens of thousands homeless when heavy rains fell in Bahia state, also in northeastern Brazil. At least 18 others died in floods in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo later in January, while torrential rains in Rio de Janeiro state killed more than 230 people the following month.

Source: agencies