At least 11 people have perished in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings due to torrential rains that struck the area on Sunday, according to the city’s fire department.
As reported by The Washington Times, a state of emergency has been declared in parts of the city, where a staggering total of 200 millimeters of rain fell in the last twenty-four hours. This amount exceeds the expected rainfall for the entire month of January.
Approximately 10 bus lines were shut down, along with several metro stations, due to widespread flooding. The casualties resulted from drowning, electrocution, and landslides. Firefighters are still searching for a woman reported missing after her car was swept away by a river flood.
The Rio fire department reported that they conducted 200 intervention operations, primarily rescues and assistance due to the floods and landslides. The National Center for Monitoring and Warning of Natural Disasters has issued a “very high” risk warning of landslides in eight municipalities in the state of Rio.
