Since the heavy rains began on Wednesday, 56 people have gone missing while nearly 4,000 people have lost their homes, CNN Brazil reported. 14 communities have declared a state of emergency
Bernambuco’s civil defense has urged residents in high-risk areas around the city of Recife to seek shelter elsewhere after landslides caused by the rains. Schools have been opened in Recife to provide shelter for displaced families.
Authorities say exceptionally high rainfall is expected in northeastern Brazil. Some areas received 24 hours more rain over the weekend than expected in May.
With rain falling in some parts of the state on Monday and moving towards the coast, the Bernabeu is forecast to receive another 30-60mm of rain over the next two days, while isolated areas are likely to receive more than 100mm. The region can experience more than half a month of rain in four days from weekend to Saturday to late Tuesday.
Storms – which can cause power outages and debris impact – can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h.
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Heavy rains over the weekend triggered Brazil’s fourth-biggest flooding in five months, according to a Reuters report, pointing to a lack of urban planning in low-income areas across much of the country. Favelas – slums or slums – are often built outside of the big cities, in hilly areas where there is ample opportunity for navigation.
Brazilian President Jair Bolzano said the military will assist the victims and will travel to Recife on Monday to assess the situation.
“From the first moment, our government provided all means to help the victims, including the armed forces,” he tweeted on Sunday.
Governor Paulo Câmara said on Twitter that his office had provided 100 million Brazilian rials ($21 million) to help areas hit by the rains. CNN Brazil reports that seven other Brazilian states have offered their help and sent rescue teams to Bernambuco.
That means some parts of Brazil will experience prolonged droughts and increasingly frequent rains, making them more vulnerable to flooding.
Why landslides occur is complex, but they often occur when there is heavy rainfall over deforested and built-up areas.
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CNN Weather’s Robert Shackleford and Monica Garrett contributed to this report. Marcelo Madiros and Michael Wells reported from Atlanta, as did Marcia Revertosa in São Paulo, Mia Alberti in Beirut and Amy Woodadt in London.
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