Rio Under Yellow Warning Over Heavy Rainfall

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A storm hit the city center and the south and west zones at the end of the morning of Monday and caused inconvenience and interdictions.

Emergency sirens monitoring the risk of landslides were triggered in seven communities: Rocinha, Santa Marta, Cabritos and Guararapes, in the south zone; Formiga, in the north zone; and Santa Alexandrina and Paula Ramos, in the center.

In all, 16 of these audible alarms that monitor geological hazards went off, and the Municipal Civil Defense received 16 calls since 10 AM.

Seven calls were due to damage to building structures and four were related to sliding hillsides. The body’s engineers and experts have been attending the main calls, and there has been no record of victims.

The rain caused Santos Dumont Airport to be closed for landings and take-offs. Line 2 of the VLT (light rail vehicle), which runs from Central Station to Praça XV downtown, was interrupted due to flooding along the track.

Water pockets built up on at least four roads in the center, including Presidente Vargas and Passos avenues. In the southern zone, the neighborhoods of Botafogo, Jardim Botânico, Lagoa and Laranjeiras are amongst the affected areas.

The heavy rainfall in the west zone blocked the Mergulhão da Barra and led to the accumulation of water at two points on Ayrton Senna Avenue and also on Armando Lombardi Avenue, two of the busiest roads in the region.

Trees fell in Tijuca, Jacarepaguá, and downtown.

In Lapa, a tree shut down Gomes Freire Avenue and inconvenienced the region, which is home to many companies and is bustling during lunchtime.

Source: Agência Brasil