Two dams have burst in Brazil after weeks of heavy rain. More than 30 places have been flooded, the governor of the state of Bahia says. Authorities have called on residents to seek a safer place.
The Igua dam near the city of Vitória da Conquista, about 800 kilometers east of the capital Brasilia, broke last night. A second dam, 100 kilometers away, failed this morning. There are no reports of casualties or injuries yet. Helicopters and boats have been deployed to rescue people.
It is feared that a major highway from the north to the south of Brazil will be flooded.
Thousands of people homeless
The state of Bahia has been suffering from heavy rainfall for some time. As a result, 18 people have been killed since early November. The governor of the state says that at least 400,000 people have been affected by the natural disaster. At least 3800 people are said to have become homeless.
According to the Brazilian weather service, precipitation in Bahia’s capital Salvador is six times greater than the long-term average.
–
