2020 Brazilian floods and mudslides

Since 17 January 2020, heavy rainstorms in the Southeast Region of Brazil have caused widespread flooding and landslides in the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro, being associated with Subtropical Storm Kurumí.[1][2][3]

2020 Brazilian floods and mudslides
NOAA satellite imagery shows remnants of the storm over Brazil, taken 27 January 2020
Date17 January 2020 (2020-01-17)–29 January 2020 (2020-01-29)
LocationBrazil
Minas Gerais
Espírito Santo
Rio de Janeiro
Deaths70

The state capital of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, reported it was the highest rainfall in over 110 years.[2] As of 30 January 2020, at least 70 people have died[4][5][6][7] with 18 still missing, and an estimated 30,000 to 46,500 people have been displaced from their homes.[8][9] The flooding coincided with the first anniversary of the 2019 Brumadinho dam disaster which killed 270 people.[1]

Flooding
Floods and mudslides in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Map of heavy rainfall in Espírito Santo in 2020, based on data from the State Civil Defense of Espírito Santo.
  Municipalities with deaths
  Municipalities in a state of emergency
  Municipalities with homeless, missing or buried
  Municipalities with infrastructure damage
  Unaffected municipalities

Heavy rainfall began on 17 January 2020[10] and led to flash flooding and landslides in the south-east of Brazil, flooding to many houses and neighbourhoods. This was primarily reported in the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. By 27 January 2020, the rain had largely subsided but was expected to continue throughout the week.[2] In the state of Minas Gerais, more than 15,000 people were evacuated as a result of the heavy rain and subsequent flooding. 10,000 people were evacuated from Espirito Santo along with 6,000 people from Rio de Janeiro. The city of Belo Horizonte saw 171 mm (6.7 in) of rainfall within a 24-hour period on 23–24 January; this was the highest such measurement in 110 years.[2] Flooding in the city was reported on 29 January and led to the collapse of the roof of a mall.[11]

Reports emerged of several collapsed bridges and damaged roads in rural parts of Minas Gerais.[12] Over 100 cities across the three states declared a state of emergency. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced the deployment of the Brazilian Armed Forces to the affected regions. Governor of Minas Gerais Romeu Zema stated that the hardest-hit areas were in areas where "people lived in informal and precarious housing". The Brazilian federal government allocated US$20 million for relief efforts in the affected regions while the state government of Minas Gerais allocated up to US$80 million.[13][14] The United Nations offered its assistance and support to the Brazilian government.[15] On 30 January, President Bolsonaro visited affected parts of Minas Gerais.[16] The large coffee fields of Minas Gerais have been largely unaffected by the flooding, according to farmers. Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer.[12] The town of Sabará established vaccination points against Hepatitis A and tetanus in the city, which was heavily hit by the flooding.[17]

Heavy rainfall continued into February and spread towards parts of neighbouring Paraguay. The southern Brazilian regions of Paraná, São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul had the highest risks of flooding.[18]

See also

References
  1. "Dozens dead in Brazil flooding and landslides". BBC News. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  2. Press, Associated (27 January 2020). "Scores dead as heavy rains bring landslides and evacuations in Brazil". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  3. "Minas tem 50 mortes por causa das chuvas dos últimos dias, diz Defesa Civil". G1 (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  4. "Sobe para 57 número de mortes por causa das chuvas em MG, diz Defesa Civil". G1 (in Portuguese).
  5. "Idosa morre arrastada pela enxurrada em Nova Iguaçu, no RJ". G1 (in Portuguese).
  6. "Sobe para 52 o número de mortes por causa das chuvas dos últimos dias em Minas Gerais, diz Defesa Civil". G1 (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  7. "Chuva deixa mais de 12 mil pessoas fora de casa no ES em 27 municípios". G1 (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  8. "Brazil rainstorms, landslides leave dozens dead, thousands evacuated". Fox News Channel. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  9. "Brazil region swept by floods and record rains faces muddy desolation". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  10. Verli, Caique (18 January 2020). "Cenário é de catástrofe, diz governador Casagrande em Iconha". Gazeta Online (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  11. "'Devastating' Flooding Swamps Streets in Brazil's Belo Horizonte". Yahoo News. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  12. "Devastating Brazil rains likely spared most of Minas coffee fields". Reuters. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  13. CNN, Claudia Dominguez and Ana Melgar. "Heavy rains leave dozens dead in Brazil". CNN. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  14. McCoy, Terrence (29 January 2020). "Exploding canals, collapsing malls: Watch Brazil's deadly floods". The Washington Post. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  15. "UN ready to help Brazil amidst heavy rains". plenglish.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  16. "Brazil's Bolsonaro visits hospital for hernia complication: source". Reuters. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  17. "Sabará faz campanha de vacinação contra hepatite A e tétano por causa da chuva". G1 Globo Minas Gerais. G1 Globo. G1 Minas. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  18. "Heavy rains and flooding forecasted for Asuncion, Paraguay and Porto Alegre, Brazil". MercoPress. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
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