Heavy rainfall affects over 430,000 people in Brazil’s Bahia; “A tragedy,” governor says

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Bahia governor Rui Costa on Sunday, December 26, declared a state of emergency in 47 more municipalities due to the devastation caused by storms.

The number of cities in this situation has risen to 72. “I don’t recall such a great tragedy in the recent history of Bahia,” said Rui Costa.

In some locations, rivers rose 10 meters an covered whole municipalities. Some roads are blocked by landslides. Consequently, residents of a number of districts are completely isolated, hindering rescue operations.

Trapped in a flooded house with 28 other people, entrepreneur Julia Netto asked for help on social networks to be evacuated from her home in Ilhéus, southern Bahia. Using social networks, Julia shared photos of the lower part of the flooded house and warned that the waters keep rising. The family has no running water or electricity.

“Our situation is despairing. The current is very strong. We cannot be rescued by helicopter. We need someone with a boat, a speedboat, whatever they have, urgently. We can’t spend any more time here. I’m desperate,” said the resident in an appeal posted on social networks.

The governor flew over the affected municipalities and explained that the rise in the number of cities in emergency situations was caused by the flooding of rivers, which continue to rise: “Although the rain has slowed down, the water continues to rise in cities below dams, below rivers.”

Houses, stores and banks dawned flooded this Sunday in downtown Itabuna, in the south of the state, after the Cachoeira River rose 9 meters. According to the city hall, 107 millimeters of rain were recorded in the region on Saturday alone. Over 600 families were left homeless or displaced.

On social networks, several images are circulating of residents from southern Bahia trying to retrieve their belongings after the damage caused by the heavy rains in the region. On Sunday, the video of an elderly man being rescued with water up to his chest went viral on the internet.

According to Colonel Jadson Almeida, assistant to the general commander of the Bahia Fire Department, 18 deaths resulting from the rain have been confirmed in the state. The 18th death is of a man washed away by the current in Aurelino Leal.

The victim drowned after a steel cable holding his raft broke.

The municipal government of Jussiape, a town of just over 5,000 inhabitants, announced on Sunday that a dam ruptured. The municipal administration is asking residents to find safe places to take shelter.

On Sunday, Minister of Citizenship João Roma visited the region. The federal government announced that it will send fuel and aircraft to help in rescue efforts.