Brazilian authorities announced on Sunday that floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed at least 19 people in the state of São Paulo over the weekend. flooded with water and debris. Houses swept away by the ground, flooded highways, cars destroyed by fallen trees, among other damage.
A state government statement said 228 more people have become homeless and 338 people have been evacuated from the coastal area north of Sao Paulo as rescue teams work to help those affected by the storm.
Authorities did not name the number of missing people.
Tarcisio de Freitas, governor of the state of São Paulo, has declared a state of emergency in five cities along the coast.
Sao Sebastian, located 200 kilometers north of Sao Paulo, where many of the city’s residents spend their weekends, was hit the hardest, with 60 centimeters of rain falling in 24 hours, according to local authorities.
“We have not yet assessed the extent of the damage. We are trying to save the victims,” Mayor Felipe Augusto said.
Extreme weather events caused by climate change are taking a toll on Brazil, with over 230 people killed in heavy rains in Petropolis last year.
