Deadly flooding hits Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Flash flooding hit Rio de Janeiro in Brazil as further heavy rains struck the region, resulting in at least one fatality on December 22, 2020. The flooding came just days after severe inundations and landslides hit Santa Catarina, leaving 12 people dead and nine others missing.
In Rio de Janeiro, at least one person was killed while three houses collapsed after severe flooding hit the Baixada Fluminense Region.
Roads and streets turned into rivers as flash floods raged, washing away debris and vehicles. Several infrastructures were also severely damaged.
The municipalities of Duque de Caxias and Mage were among the worst-hit, especially the Carretero and Santo Antônio neighborhoods, according to local media. In Xerem, up to 224.2 mm (8.8 inches) of rain was recorded in a 24-hour period to December 23.
Prefeito @WReis_Oficial , governador @claudiocastroRJ, enviem ajuda ao povo de Xerem, Jardim Olimpo, Vila Canaã e bairros do quarto distrito. Tem moradores levados pelas chuvas, casas que desabaram e pessoas desaparecidas. Duque de Caxias pede socorro! pic.twitter.com/JTob4dJvAX
— Professor Marroni (@MarroniAlves) December 22, 2020
Essa é a casa da minha tia em xerem em Caxias no RJ, após uma série de chuvas!!
Não só ela, como seus vizinhos perderam mts coisas e tudo isso mt perto do natal !https://t.co/DQop3e2VeSFiz uma vakinha e qualquer 5,00 ajuda muitoooo e quem não puder nos ajuda compartilhando pic.twitter.com/3eyElkPbqC
— NENA (@clarissesssanto) December 23, 2020
André Xavier, the municipal superintendent of Civil Defense, announced that alert sirens were sounded. Civil defense teams visited the affected areas and advised residents to move to safer grounds.
The flooding came after major inundations and landslides hit Santa Catarina on December 17. Up to 1 600 people were affected by the critical situation as "everything was destroyed," said authorities. At least 12 people lost their lives while nine others went missing.
Featured image credit: SIDNEI ADAO/YouTube
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