A resident looks at a destroyed house after a landslide in Teresopolis January 13, 2011. REUTERS/Bruno DomingosIt began raining heavily in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro late on Wednesday, 12 January. In a few hours over 650 people were dead and thousands homeless.
Shortly after the rains started, CARE deployed emergency staff to determine the extent of the damage in the most affected areas Nova Friburgo and Teresópolis. CARE is coordinating closely with the government and other agencies.
Landslides and flash floods hit cities, with entire neighborhoods destroyed. The disaster is the sixth most deadly over the past year, according to the Center for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED).
The disaster has caused major damage across the region. There are many people missing and searches continue. Some locations are still inaccessible. Unofficially, it is estimated that the number of deaths in Nova Friburgo alone could reach 1,000.
Storms are still raging, and the forecast is for more rain in coming days. This hampers rescue efforts and worsens the situation. The geography of the area and the fact that many families have illegally occupied land mean that the area was particularly vulnerable to a natural disaster.
Many of those affected have been provided shelter by family members or are staying in public buildings, football stadiums, churches and schools.
Infrastructure has been damaged across the entire region. In Nova Friburgo, only now have some of the services including water, power and telephones been restored.
CARE is currently monitoring the situation. If additional support is needed, CARE is ready to assist the most vulnerable by ensuring access to safe drinking water for families; providing food and hygiene kits; and improving shelter conditions.
