2023-11-19 04:07:00
Extreme heat in Brazil: the city of Rio de Janeiro recorded a record thermal sensation of 59.7 degrees. (AP/Silvia Izquierdo)
The Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro is facing an unprecedented heat wave, with temperatures that have reached record levels, causing extreme situations in the most vulnerable populations.
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This Saturday, the thermal sensation rose to 59.7 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 59.3°C recorded on Friday in Guaratiba. These extreme conditions led to the suspension of American singer Taylor Swift’s concert.
The intense heat led dozens of bathers to cool off on the beaches, such as the tourist and emblematic Copacabana and Ipanema.
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Much of central and southeastern Brazil has been suffering for several days with oppressive and atypical temperatures for the southern spring.
Experts agree that the effects are more acute in the poorest neighborhoods, with a high population density and precarious housing separated only by narrow passages.
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Inside the houses, without heat insulation and poorly ventilated, the situation only worsens. “It creates a sauna feeling,” said André Candido, a resident of Rocinha.
The intense heat led dozens of bathers to cool off on the beaches, such as the tourist and emblematic Copacabana and Ipanema. (AFP)
Rocinha residents live in low houses, with small windows and metal roofs, “not really suitable for a very hot condition” like the one last week, says Denise Duarte, a professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Sao Paulo.
In recent months, Brazil has suffered the impact of extreme weather that experts attribute to warming and the El Niño phenomenon: high temperatures, a historic drought in the north and intense rains accompanied by cyclones in the south of the country.
The intense heat wave has had tragic consequences. Ana Clara Benevides, a young Psychology student and Taylor Swift fan, died from cardiac arrest caused by dehydration and extreme heat during Friday’s recital.
This incident has shocked Brazil and has led the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to take measures, such as allowing water bottles at events to prevent future tragedies.
In recent months, Brazil has suffered the impact of extreme weather that experts attribute to warming and the El Niño phenomenon. (AP/Bruna Prado)
According to reports from the O Globo network, more than 1,000 people fainted and needed medical attention before and during the concert due to heat and dehydration. At the Nilton Santos stadium, located in the Meier neighborhood, bottles of water quickly sold out, despite their high cost.
The city of Rio de Janeiro is under storm alert until midnight Sunday. A cold front on the coast is expected to generate wind gusts that might reach 100 kilometers per hour in the southeastern region.
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