Severe floods and landslides hit Rio de Janeiro, claiming 11 lives, Brazil
At least 11 people have died in Rio de Janeiro after a month’s worth of rain hit parts of the city, turning roads into raging rivers, the fire department confirmed on Sunday, January 15, 2024. The northern parts of the city were particularly affected, with incidents of landslides, drownings, and electrocutions reported.
In Acari, one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods, the deluge flooded the basement offices of the Ronaldo Gazolla hospital and severely impacted local businesses, while in Avenida de Brasil, one of the city’s major thoroughfares, water levels reached the roofs of cars.
A dozen bus lines ceased operations, and multiple metro stations closed due to water inundating the tracks.
According to a report from the firefighters, they responded to over 200 storm-related incidents.
Some areas of Rio de Janeiro experienced a month’s worth of typical January rainfall within just 24 hours.
Heavy rainfall caused devastating flooding at Ronaldo Gazolla Hospital in Acari, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 🇧🇷 | 14 January 2024 | #floods #flooding #Acari #RiodeJaneiro #Brazil pic.twitter.com/VLGXkdbMtP
— Disaster Tracker (@DisasterTrackHQ) January 15, 2024
More footage of flooding due to heavy rainfall in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 🇧🇷 | 14 January 2024 | #floods #flooding #Brazil #RiodeJaneiro pic.twitter.com/0YVBqElDVL
— Disaster Tracker (@DisasterTrackHQ) January 15, 2024
More footage of the devastating flooding due to heavy rainfall in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 🇧🇷 | 14 January 2024 | #floods #flooding #Brazil #RiodeJaneiro pic.twitter.com/g2imhHgZxC
— Disaster Tracker (@DisasterTrackHQ) January 15, 2024
Flooding at a train station due to heavy rainfall in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 🇧🇷 | 14 January 2024 | #floods #flooding #Brazil #RiodeJaneiro pic.twitter.com/C7Nim9PE8L
— Disaster Tracker (@DisasterTrackHQ) January 15, 2024
The severity of the situation prompted Mayor Eduardo Paes to declare a state of emergency, urging residents to stay indoors both for their safety and to facilitate rescue and recovery operations.
References:
1 Torrential rains leave at least 11 dead in Brazil – AFP – January 15, 2024
Featured image credit: Disaster Tracker (stillshot)
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