The heavy rains that have hit the North and Northeast of Brazil in recent days have left thousands of people homeless. Six states of the federation are in a state of alert due to the flooding of the rivers: Acre, Amazonas, Rondônia, Pará, Tocantins and Maranhão.
The government of the state of Acre and its capital, Rio Branco, declared a state of emergency due to the rains. The latest bulletin from the State Civil Defense reported that the Acre river exceeded the alert quota of 14 meters this Saturday the 25th, reaching 16.23 meters.
Heavy rains hit Manaus. The scene is one of destruction! Once again, houses are being dragged away and people are in dangerous situations, due to the lack of serious public policies committed to urban planning that protects people from environmental disasters. Until when? pic.twitter.com/EuXbzNHq8K
— Chico Alencar (@chico_psol) March 26, 2023
Tweet: “Strong rains hit Manaus. The scenario is one of destruction! Once again, houses are washed away and people go through dangerous situations, due to a lack of serious public policies and commitment to urban planning that protects people from environmental disasters. How long?”
The heavy rain began on Thursday the 23rd. Over a 13-hour period, more than half of the average rainfall expected for the entire month of March fell on the state. A section of the BR-364 highway was closed by a crater opened by the force of the waters.
The capital of Acre has been receiving donations to help the 32,000 families affected. Two thousand of them were left homeless and lack basic baskets of food, clothing and mattresses.
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Classes have been suspended and schools in the state network are being used as shelters. In total, 500 families were welcomed in the 24 shelters made available by the public power. The house of Marfisa Galvão, deputy mayor of Rio Branco (Acre), was also affected, in the Vila Ivonete neighborhood.
On Instagram, American actress Viola Davis posted a video showing her solidarity with the victims of the rain in Acre. “I really don’t know how to help other than by spreading the message that this beautiful country needs our help,” she said on the social network.
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The Rio Branco region remains on orange alert. The state Civil Defense affirms that there is also concern for the municipalities of Brasileia, Assis Brasil, Xapuri and Epitaciolândia.
The Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, and the Minister of Integration and Regional Development, Waldez Góes, arrived in Acre on Sunday 26 to visit the affected areas and monitor assistance to the population.
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“All measures were taken to guarantee support for the population. Thank God we did not have any fatalities,” Góes said on Twitter, reiterating that the Disaster Support Group (GADE) team is in the state.
We are in Rio Branco, in Acre, representing the president @LulaOficialwith the minister @MarinaSilva and the national civil defense coordinator, Wolnei Wolff, to closely monitor, along with the mayor @bocalomoficial and the governor @GladsonCameli, pic.twitter.com/mfvvawzLy6
— Waldez Goes (@waldezoficial) March 26, 2023
Tweet: “We are in Rio Branco, Acre, representing President @LulaOficial, with Minister @MarinaSilva and National Civil Defense Coordinator, Wolnei Wolff, to follow closely, along with Mayor @bocalomoficial and Governor @GladsonCameli. “
On his Twitter account, the minister stated that after his visit to Acre he will visit Manaus. In the capital of Amazonas, this Saturday the 25th, more than 41 occurrences of flooding and/or landslides were registered, according to the municipal government. So far, more than 260 families have been displaced in Manaus (Amazon) due to the rains.
Maranhao
Maranhão is the state with the most municipalities affected by heavy rains. According to the Civil Defense, more than 21 cities are in an emergency situation, including the capital, São Luís. The Maranhão Military Fire Department estimates that more than 1,358 families are homeless and another 2,954 are displaced.
Editing: Daniel Lamir
