(CNN Español) — Floods and landslides due to heavy rains in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, leave at least 80 people dead, according to the state government.
In a statement, authorities said they have deployed a team to Morro da Oficina, where they believe most of the victims are still buried. There are about 400 mobilized soldiers working in 44 points affected by the storm. In addition, they placed a field hospital with 10 beds where the victims receive their first care.
Governor Cláudio Castro went to the area to closely follow the work of the teams in the places where the landslides and floods occurred. In a statement, the Rio de Janeiro government said some 21 people were rescued alive.
In statements to the media, Castro referred to the event as “almost a war situation.
There is still no estimate of how many people are missing, the Rio de Janeiro Fire Department and Civil Defense said Wednesday.
The situation in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro
Petrópolis accumulated more rain in one afternoon than the historical average for all of February, according to the Civil Defense of Rio.
Also, the city records 207 calls to the Fire Department related to heavy rain.
Meanwhile, at least 80 landslide points have been recorded, according to a report from Agencia Brasil this Tuesday.
Videos broadcast on social networks show images of cars being dragged by strong currents. The municipality announced the state of public calamity in Petrópolis.
For his part, Minister of Regional Development, Rogério Marinhoconfirmed on his Twitter account on Tuesday that President Jair Bolsonaro, who found in Russia is aware of the situation and has arranged for resources to be mobilized in favor of the victims.
Brazil Agency reported that the number of fatalities may be higher than that reported by the authorities, since there were many landslides.
Around 10 pm on Tuesday, the nucleus of rains in the municipality in the last hours had moved away, however the forecast of rains with weak to moderate intensity remains, which keeps the city on alert, the agency reported. news state.
(Credit: Military Fire Department of the State of Rio de Janeiro)
With information from Rodrigo Pedroso, of CNN, in Sao Paulo.