The death toll from flooding in Brazil has climbed as thousands remain displaced.
On Monday, the number of victims increased to 20, according toReuters. Meanwhile, the number of injured people reached 280,CNNreported.
“This is a massive tragedy,” said Gov. Rui Costa of Bahia.
Manuella Luana/AFP via Getty
“I can’t remember seeing anything like this in Bahia’s recent history, given the amount of cities and houses involved,” Costa continued. “It’s truly terrifying, there are so many houses and streets that are completely under water.”
Making the flooding even worse and adding to concerns, two dams broke in the northeastern cities of Jussiape and Itambe on Sunday, according to theAssociated Press.
“A dam with a high volume of water has broken and a strong flash flood is expected to affect the municipality of Itambe in a few moments,” the city warned via Instagram, perABC News. “All residents should evacuate from the banks of the river Verruga urgently.”
“It’s difficult to maneuver even with jet skis,” Manfredo Santana, a lieutenant colonel in Bahia’s firefighting corps, said of rescue workers, per Reuters. “Rescue teams had to retreat in certain moments.”
Still, efforts to provide relief from the devastation continue.
“At this first moment we’re acting to save people, to get people off the top of their houses, out of isolation, with boats,” Costa said on Sunday, per ABC News.
Costa added that food, mattresses and warm clothing would be distributed to those in need.
source: people.com
