One person has been killed in unpredictable weather in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, with the death toll rising to 18 since the beginning of November in the region, where 58 municipalities have been flooded and 35,000 people displaced, local officials said Sunday.
Bahia firefighters have confirmed the death of a 60-year-old man who drowned in a river in the southern municipality of Aurelino Leal.
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In addition to these 18 deaths, two were missing, 19,580 were displaced and 16,001 had to seek shelter, bringing the number of people evacuated from their homes by the weather event to about 35,000, according to the Bahia Civil Defense. (Sudec).
Meanwhile, 286 people have been injured since the heavy rains that began in November, he added.
A total of 430,869 people have been affected by the rains.
The crisis situation worsened over the weekend. As of Sunday afternoon, the number of emergency municipalities had risen to 72, 58 of which were in crisis due to flooding, Sudec said.
Earlier in the day, local authorities announced that 19 municipalities had been affected by the floods.
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“It simply came to our notice then. I do not remember any of these dimensions in Bahia’s recent history. The sheer number of homes, streets and cities completely submerged is staggering, ”said Governor Rui Costa, who flew over the disaster-stricken areas of southern Bahia on Sunday morning.
Since Saturday, a joint operation has been held between the Federal State and the Bahia states, mobilizing personnel, helicopters and equipment to help thousands of flood-affected residents, in collaboration with other states such as Minas. Jeris, Sergey, Espirido Santo and Sao Paulo.
According to the Bahia Infrastructure Ministry, some 25 roads in various parts of the state have been blocked or submerged.
