Rainstorms Cause Deaths in the Northeast where over 50 Thousand People Have Been Dislodged

05/30/2017 - 13h09

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JOÃO PEDRO PITOMBO

FROM SALVADOR

Rainstorms that struck the northeastern coast of Brazil over the weekend killed 7 people. 6 people have gone missing, while 54 thousand people in the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas have been dislodged.

Reprodução/TV Globo The rainstorms struck the forests and wild areas of Pernambuco, the northern region of Alagoas as well as the metropolitan Maceió area, leading to floods and landslides

Cities were partially submerged while highways were blocked. Schools have been shut down and even hospitals had to deal with flooding.

The governor of Pernambuco declared a state of emergency in 14 municipalities. On Monday (the 29th) a survey that was released by the Civil Defense concluded that 45 thousand people had either lost their homes (and were staying in public buildings for shelter) or dislodged (staying with friends or family).

In Alagoas, the beaches of Maceió as well as the city's river banks were covered in trash. The city said it collected over one thousand tons in garbage, 250 of which were collected by the Salgadinho river, which cuts through the city.

On Sunday (the 28th), President Michel Temer flew over the areas of Pernambuco and Alagoas that had been struck, and promised that emergency funds would soon be available.

The federal government also announced that it will lend the state of Pernambuco R$ 600 million (US$ 180 million) so the state can take precautionary measures in the medium and long terms and build dams.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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