SAO PAULO — Brazilian authorities said on Sunday that at least 19 people had died in several towns in northern Sao Paulo state amid flooding and landslides, and the number could rise further.
The cities of Sao Sebastiao and Bertioga, two of the hardest hit, have canceled their carnival festivities as rescue teams struggle to find missing, injured and feared dead in the rubble.
“Our rescue teams are unable to reach several places; it’s a chaotic situation,” said Felipe Augusto, the mayor of Sao Sebastiao. He posted several videos of widespread destruction in his town on his social media, including one showing a baby being rescued by residents lined up in a flooded street.
The Sao Paulo state government said in a statement that rainfall in the region exceeded 600 millimeters in one day, one of the highest amounts ever recorded in Brazil in such a short time.
Bertioga alone was 687 millimeters during that time, the state government said.
Governor Tarcisio de Freitas said in a statement that he had requested the support of the army, which will send two planes and rescue teams to the region. He issued a decree of public calamity for the cities of Ubatuba, Sao Sebastiao, Ilhabela, Caraguatatuba and Bertioga.
Television images showed flooded houses with only the roof visible. Residents use small boats to transport objects and people to higher positions. A road that connects Rio de Janeiro to the port city of Santos has been blocked by landslides and flooding.
The northern coast of Sao Paulo state is a frequent carnival destination for wealthy tourists who prefer to stay away from the massive street parties in the big cities.
ABC News
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