Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Brazil: Deadly landslides kill 65

At least 65 people have died as a result of heavy flooding and landslides in southern Brazil. Officials have also said that seventeen people have gone missing as days of interminable rains have left 42,000 Brazilians homeless. Power has been cut off from Santa Catarina state and the federal government declared a state of emergency for that region.

The flooding in Brazil has affected energy supplies coming from other countries while some parts of Santa Catarina have been completely cut off from receiving any help:
"Mattresses, food, blankets -- these are the main necessities we need to look after our displaced people," Joao Paulo Kleinubing, the mayor of badly affected Blumenau town, told Globo News television channel.

"There is still a risk of landslides if it rains again so we are telling people in risky areas to leave their houses and seek shelter"…

"My son is lost, we don't know whether he's alive or dead," one man, identified as Mario, told Globo News before breaking down in sobs.
Landslides have also killed six people in Colombia as heavy rains have hampered rescue efforts.

Image- BBC News
Sources-
BBC News, AP, Bloomberg, CNN, Reuters

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