Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Alagoas (Agenzia Fides) – Two days of uninterrupted rain, over 21 towns in Zona da Mata, the Paraiba valley and Costa Nord of Brazil's Alagoas State, left 32 dead, about 80,000 people homeless and more than one thousand missing. Some smaller towns were completely washed away by the force of the rain and flood waters from rivers.
In the area of Maceió, one of the most affected towns was Rio Largo, through which flows the River Mundaú. According to civil protection units, about 3,000 homes, close to the river were destroyed. About 30 people are still missing and more than 15,000 forced to abandon their homes, have found shelter in schools, sports centres or with relatives.
The local press tells the dramatic story of people fleeing with little more than the clothes they were wearing. "I has just time to pick up my identity papers, put some clothes in a shopping bag and dress the children" said a mother of five children. Most of the 2,000 homes in the village were washed away by the river current. The few still standing cannot be used. The level of the River Mundaú has since subsided, but the current is still strong.
In the state of Pernambuco, where a state of emergency has been declared in 53 towns, 13 people are reported dead and more than 42,000 homeless. Of these, 18,000 have found shelter in public structures. In nearby Alagoas, 19 people are reported to have died in 22 towns affected by the torrential rains, and the number of homeless is at least 58,000. Rainfall this heavy and this persistent had not been registered in the area since 1969. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 22/06/2010)
