Update: Deaths rise to 110, and 19 Remain Missing in Brazil: 1.5 Million People Affected

by mazevedo | November 25, 2008 at 09:43 am

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Sat, November 29 2008

The number of deaths caused by rain that reaches Santa Catarina since the end of last week already reaches 110, according to Civil Defense reported this Saturday (29).
78,707 are homeless and displaced - 27,410 homeless and 51,297 homeless.
In all, more than 1.5 million people were affected by the rains.

The rain is expected to continue throughout this weekend and into next week making it harder for the cities affected to recover. New landslides are still expected in the state of Santa Catarina therefore several areas have been evacuated. It is said that in just 4 days the state has got an amount of rain it usually gets in 4 months. The Department of Health of Santa Catarina is already preparing itself and asking for donations in order to acquire equipment to fight against leptospirosis which is a really common disease in flooded areas. Volunteers who want to help can fill out a registration in the government site www.saude.sc.gov.br, the campaign has until now had a really good turnout and had several doctors and nurses recruited so far.

Public donations have also already raised $3.5 million U.S. Dollars and 800 tons of food and clothing.

Bellow are the accounts for donations:

- Bank / Sicoob SC - 756 - Agency 1005, Current Account 2008-7
Caixa Economica Federal - Agency 1877, Operation 006, account 80.000-8
Banco do Brasil - Agency 3582-3, Current Account 80.000-7
Besco - 068-0 agency, Current Account 80.000-0.
Bradesco S / A - 237 Agency 0348-4, Current Account 160.000-1
Itau S / A - 341, Agency 0289, Account competition 69971-2
SICREDI - 748, Agency 2603, Current Account 3500-9
Santander - 033, Agency 1227, Current Account 430000052

Name of the legal entity is State Fund of Civil Defense, CNPJ - 04.426.883/0001-57.

Wed, November 26 2008

Death numbers have risen to 99, and people left homeless has gone over 78 thousand in Santa Catarina, Brazil. An immediate bill has already been signed this Wednesday by President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva liberating a total value of 1.6 Billion Reais, approximately $724 million U.S.D. The bill was passed with the intent of fixing the federal road, houses, and for operations of recovery done by the Civil Defense and Army Forces of Brazil. The money is not only directed to the state of Santa Catarina but also it is to be used by other states who may suffer from the same cause as more heavy rainfalls are expected this summer.

Tue, November 25, 2008

Rain has left more than 69 dead and 53,000 homeless in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. Since the weekend, five cities in Brazil have announced a state of calamity.

According to official sources 1.5 million people have been affected so far. From the beginning of the weekend until now more than 8 cities have been isolated and many are without water or electricity.

Brazil has already grouped together several teams which are headed to help in this tragic flood. So far the Brazilian Army has assembled 4 helicopters, 17 trucks and 12 boats.

According to welded Samuel Martins, of the Body of Firemen of Itajaí, at least three supermarkets of the city and some pharmacies they had been pillaged. “The people had pillaged the market, but not always have they been taking foods. In some places people have been caught stealing alcoholic beverage and cigarettes. Many opportunists are mixing in with those who really need food and water supplies.” affirmed Martins.

The lack of food and water has led victims to start breaking into supermarkets and pharmacies in order to get their basic essential needs. Brazil's civil's defense has responded by sending several water trucks to the flooded cities. Some cities are actually being found in the devastating conditions of being 80% underneath water.

Chaos has basically taken over these southern Brazilian cities as highways have also been flooded and intersected by the damages brought about from the water.

According to government sources, this has been the "worst climate tragedy in the history of the state" by far.

Related stories in now public:
http://my.nowpublic.com/world/brazil-flooding-kills-least-20
http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/brazil-flood-death-toll-rises-65-17-missing
http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/flooded-ilhota-city-brazil-1

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Rosane Calegari.

at 12:18 on November 25th, 2008

muito triste!

Rosane Calegari. has contributed a photo to this story.

guimjr

at 15:39 on November 26th, 2008

The Mayor of Blumenau and the Governador of the State of Santa Catarina have said in interviews for TV channels in Brazil that it will probably take about 2-2,5 years for completely recover all the damage.

I live in Blumenau, the city most afflicted by the rain, and untill today lots of shops, banks, supermarkets, etc. still have not returned to work. There is no water.

I personally think that just in the beggining of the next year things are going to start to work