SAO PAULO (AP) — Heavy rains have caused floods and landslides that have killed 36 people on the northern coast of Brazil’s São Paulo state, officials said Monday, as the death toll could rise.
The São Paulo state government said in a statement that 35 people died in the city of Sao Sebastiao, and a 7-year-old girl was killed in nearby Ubatuba. As of Monday morning, more than 500 people continued search and rescue operations.
Some of the towns hardest hit by the state of emergency, including Sao Sebastiao, Ubatuba, Ilhabela and Bertioga, canceled carnival celebrations as rescue teams continued to search for the injured and missing under the rubble.
“Our rescue teams cannot reach multiple locations; it’s a chaotic situation,” said Felipe Augusto, the mayor of Sao Sebastiao. He added that dozens of people are missing and 50 houses have collapsed in the city due to landslides.
Augusto posted several videos on social media of the widespread destruction in his town, including one of a child rescued by locals along a flooded street.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Twitter that he would visit the region on Monday.
The São Paulo state government said in a statement that rainfall in the region exceeded 600 millimeters (23.6 inches) in a single day, one of the highest amounts ever recorded in Brazil in such a short period.
Bertioga alone had 687mm during that time, the state government said.
Governor Tarcisio de Freitas said in a statement that he had requested the support of the military, which sent two planes and rescue teams to the region.
Television images showed flooded houses with only their roofs visible. Residents use small boats to transport items and people to higher altitudes. A road connecting Rio de Janeiro to the port city of Santos has been blocked by landslides and flooding.
The north coast of the state of São Paulo is a frequent carnival destination for wealthy tourists who prefer to stay away from the massive street parties of the big cities.
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