Heavy rains that have ravaged coastal areas of Brazil’s southeastern São Paulo state since the weekend have left a trail of destruction, with dozens of people still missing and the official death toll rising to 48. Governor Tarcísio de Freitas warned that more rain was on its way, as rescue teams scrambled to find survivors trapped in the rubble of landslides and flooded homes.
“We are currently working with a tally of at least 38 missing people,” De Freitas told reporters, as weather forecasters cautioned that the region was still reeling from the worst rain event in the country’s history. With more than 600mm of rain falling in just a few days, this devastating event has shattered records, leaving a combined total of 1,730 people displaced and 1,810 left homeless.
The city of São Sebastião, roughly 200km from São Paulo, was particularly hard hit, accounting for 47 of the reported deaths. However, nearby towns such as Ilhabela, Caraguatatuba, Bertioga, and Ubatuba were also severely affected, with residents left to grapple with the aftermath of the disaster.
Torrential Rains Devastate Brazilian Coast, Leaving Trail of DestructionKey roads, including the Mogi-Bertioga and Rio-Santos highways, remained blocked due to landslides, posing significant challenges for rescue operations. Meanwhile, government and private aid groups struggled to reach isolated towns, with criminal activity threatening the distribution of aid. “There’s food trafficking, we don’t know where the food is going,” lamented local resident Reuri Nascimento, who was forced to remove 22 bodies using his quad bike.
Despite these challenges, authorities are working to provide necessities, with 7.5 tonnes of aid items already distributed to affected families. The homeless have been sheltered in schools, kindergartens, and churches, while a local court granted authorities permission to force residents from at-risk areas to relocate in extreme cases.
As Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, visited the hardest-hit area, residents expressed frustration at the government’s response. “Why aren’t the police here to help us?” asked Nascimento, echoing the sentiments of many. Silva reassured that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government was committed to improving the situation, with a focus on adapting the city to the needs of its most vulnerable residents.
The floods in coastal São Paulo state are the latest in a series of devastating disasters to affect Brazil, where poorly constructed homes and infrastructure often fail to withstand the country’s rainy season. As the country grapples with the aftermath of this disaster, it is clear that the road to recovery will be long and arduous, requiring significant efforts from all stakeholders.