At least 30 people are missing following a landslide on a highway in Guaratuba, on the coast of the Brazilian state of Paraná, which affected more than a dozen cars and trucks, according to firefighters’ estimates.
The government of Paraná decreed a situation of emergency in the Eastern region of Paraná, comprising the municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba and the Coast.
The approval comes after several landslides hit the state, such as the one registered at km 669 of BR-376 in Guaratuba.
As of this Wednesday morning (Nov. 30), two deaths have been confirmed, and six people have been rescued alive.
The publication was announced last Tuesday (29) by Governor Carlos Massa Ratinho Junior, who also determined the creation of a crisis cabinet to assist in the care of victims and concentrate decisions regarding the situation on the BR-376 in Guaratuba.
The document authorizes the mobilization of all state agencies to act in response to the disaster, rehabilitation of the scenario, and reconstruction of the affected areas.
In addition, the emergency allows for state support to the affected municipalities, and if it receives federal recognition, the cities can also have help from the Union by sending teams, materials, and resources to the affected areas.
According to the governor, this is essential since “the situation is very critical, and there is still the risk of landslides in other points of the Serra do Mar”, warned. “We have even had to limit the number of firefighters assisting,” he said.
RESCUE OPERATION CONTINUES
In all, 54 firemen are working at km 669, with the help of three sniffer dogs and members of the Military Police, Federal Highway Police, Civil Defense, and the Arteris Litoral Sul concessionaire.
However, the horrible weather conditions still hinder the search and damage assessment. The authorities estimate so far that the mud has buried six trucks and about 15 vehicles.
FLOODS AND FLOODING
Also, according to the State Government, the heavy rains have caused floods, mudslides, and flooding in other cities on the coast and in the Metropolitan Region, such as Campina Grande do Sul, Morretes, Quatro Barras, and São José dos Pinhais.
A bulletin released on Tuesday (Nov. 29) by the Civil Defense shows that 680 people were affected by the events, of which 474 were displaced and 24 were homeless.
In all, 122 houses have been damaged.