Dozens killed as deadly storms hit Brazilian coast

• At least 36 people have died as a result of massive flooding and landslides.
• Flooded neighborhoods, flooded highways, and debris left behind after houses were carried away.
• Rescue personnel has been working hard to reach survivors and clear roadways.

Officials in the Brazilian state of So Paulo say at least 36 people have died as a result of massive flooding and landslides, which have forced some communities to cancel their annual Carnival celebrations.

flooded neighborhoods, flooded highways, and debris left behind after houses were carried away.

Rescue personnel has been working hard to reach survivors and clear roadways.

On Sunday, some locations received more than 600mm (23.6 inches) of rain, more than double the monthly average.

“Search and rescue teams are not managing to get to several places; it is a chaotic situation,” said Felipe Augusto, the mayor of the hard-hit town of São Sebastião.

“We have not yet gauged the scale of the damage. We are trying to rescue the victims.”

Dozens were missing in the town and about 50 houses had collapsed and washed away, Mr Augusto added, saying that the situation remained “extremely critical”.

The state government recorded at least 35 deaths in So Sebastio, and the mayor of Ubatuba, around 80 kilometres (50 miles) north-east, reported the death of a little girl. Hundreds of people have been displaced or evacuated.

“Unfortunately, we are going to have many more deaths,” a civil defense official said.

Meanwhile, officials report that another 228 people have been displaced, with 338 more evacuated from coastal areas north of So Paulo.

Six towns in the state have proclaimed a state of calamity for 180 days: So Sebastio, Caraguatatuba, Ilhabela, Ubatuba, Guarujá, and Bertioga.

State Governor Tarcsio de Freitas announced the allocation of $1.5 million (£1.2 million) in disaster relief cash.

Carnival events were cancelled along the northern shore, which is a popular destination for wealthier tourists hoping to avoid the large city’s streetside festivities.

The event typically lasts five days before the Christian festival of Lent, and the vibrant celebrations are synonymous with Brazil.

Santos, South America’s largest port, was also closed as wind gusts topped 55km/h (34mph) and waves reached over a metre, according to local media.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was in the northeastern state of Bahia for the carnival weekend, said he would visit the devastated districts on Monday.

In a tweet, he expressed his condolences to those who had lost loved ones and vowed to bring authorities together to provide healthcare, seek for those who had gone missing, and restore transportation and communication infrastructure.

“We are going to bring together all levels of government and, with the solidarity of society, treat the wounded, look for the missing, restore highways, power connections and telecommunications in the region,” Mr da Silva wrote. “My condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this tragedy.”

He added that the entire federal government was “available and working to help with whatever is necessary and to join efforts with the government of São Paulo and city halls in helping the victims”.

Further severe rains are forecast in the area, potentially worsening the situation for rescue personnel.

Floods and other extreme weather events are predicted to become more common as the effects of climate change take hold.

More than 230 people were killed by severe rains in the south-eastern city of Petropolis last year.

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