Sao PauloAt least 26 people have died in two cities in northern Sao Paulo state due to floods and landslides, Brazilian officials said, and the number could still rise. Sao Sebastiao’s city hall confirmed on Sunday that 25 people had died and the mayor of Ubatuba said a 7-year-old girl had died. The cities of São Sebastião, Ubatuba, Ilhabela and Bertioga, some of the hardest hit and now in a state of disaster, canceled their Carnival festivities as rescuers struggled with the missing, injured, and feared dead in the rubble.
Our rescue teams are unable to reach many places; Sao Sebastiao Mayor Felipe Augusto said it was a chaotic situation. Later, he said dozens of people were missing and 50 houses collapsed in the city due to landslides. Augusto posted several videos on his social media channels of the widespread destruction in his town, including one of a child rescued by locals on a flooded street.
Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva said on Twitter that he would visit the region on Monday. The Sao Paulo state government said in a statement that rainfall in the region exceeded 600 millimeters a day, one of the highest amounts ever recorded in Brazil in such a short period of time. The state government said that Bertioga alone had 687 millimeters during that period.
Governor Tarcisio de Freitas said in a statement that he requested support from the military, which sent two airplanes and rescue teams to the area. TV footage showed houses flooded with only roofs visible. Residents are using small boats to carry goods and people to higher positions. A road that links Rio de Janeiro to the port city of Santos was blocked by landslides and flood waters.
The northern coast of São Paulo state is a frequented Carnival destination for wealthy tourists who prefer to stay away from the massive street parties in the big cities.