Most Deadly Disaster Of The Last Decades

Illustration of the flood of 1717 occurred off the coast of Germany, the Netherlands and part of Scandinavia in December 25, 1717.

Torrents of mud and water set off by heavy rains left a trail of destruction through the mountainous Serrana region near the city of Rio de Janeiro, toppling houses, buckling roads and burying entire families as they slept.

"It's like an earthquake struck some areas," said Jorge Mario, the mayor of Teresopolis, where 185 people were killed and scores more were feared dead.

"The death toll is going to climb a lot. There are a lot of people buried who can't get help because rescue teams can't get there," Mario said, adding that three of the town's neighborhoods were destroyed by the flooding.

The mudslides swept away the homes of rich and poor alike in and around Teresopolis and other towns, likely causing billions of dollars in damage. But the brunt of the disaster was borne by poorer rural residents in houses built in risky areas without formal planning permission.

The floods have not affected Brazil's main export crops -- soy, sugar cane, oranges and coffee -- although they could push up local food prices further as the small Serrana region is an important producer of fruit and vegetables for the Rio metropolitan area.

Television images showed rescuers trying to haul residents from raging floodwaters, and going through the ruins of homes in search of survivors, often finding only corpses. One success came when a 6-month-old baby was rescued alive from the rubble of a house, drawing thunderous cheers from residents.

Floods, a good or bad for Humanity - Gift or Punishment

                                                 

Mankind has always preferred to live near fresh water, where land ismore fertile and irrigation, easy, but sometimes, rivers rebel. The result is a tragedy.
No region of the planet is free from this kind of disaster - with the exception of deserts, of course
For a flood, there is just a river and people living on its shores. It isinevitable. One day will overflow, dragging all their waters reach.
The floods are especially feared in the fertile deltas of large rivers, home to huge clusters of people: Mississippi, United States, theGanges, which, after bathing the Indian territory, flows both in Indiaand in Bangladesh; Blue rivers (Yang-tse-kiang) and Yellow (Huangho) in China. They are caused mostly by increased rainfall orsudden melting of snows in the mountains.
It is difficult, often determine if the floods are positive or negative forhumanity, for the same waters that destroy homes bring substancesthat fertilize the soil. In ancient Egypt, the Nile floods werecommemorated in a few years as the Gift of the Gods, and others,as a punishment. 
 

Floods in Santa Catarina

Floods hit the state of Santa Catarina, located in southern Brazil, in January 2011. About 83 cities have enacted an emergency because of heavy rains. The city of Sweet Mirim declared a state of public calamity. The Civil Defense accounted for six deaths and about 930,000 people were affected. More than 26,000 people had to leave their homes around the state. 24,124 people  homeless and other homeless 1926.


Alert was reported in relation to Taió Dam, with the opening of all gates. The tank was in the ceiling, and the Defender of Civil Taió, South River and West River remained firm surveillance due to the high rainfall, which resulted in flooding in the municipalities cited the consequent increase in the level of the river, because the opening of the floodgates.The Civil Defense also reported flooding and landslides in Brush, the Itajai Valley where some cities have experienced problems due to the steady increase in rainfall.
The cities that remained in an emergency situation were Antônio Carlos, Anitápolis, Alfredo Wagner, Warm Waters, Anita Garibaldi, Warehouse, Araquari, Araranguá, Aurora, Stall Brook Silva, Barra do Sul Balneario, Seagull Spa, Biguaçu, Old Bar, GoodJardim da Serra, North Arm, Arm Trombudo, Firecrackers, Camboriú, Cocal do Sul, Corupá, Cricklewood, Miss Emma, ​​Badlands, Forquilhinha, Gaspar, Grantham, Gravesend, Guaramirim, Governador Celso Ramos, Içara, Islet, Imaruí, Itapoá, Itaiópolis, Jaguaruna, Jaragua do Sul, Joinville, Jacinto Machado, Laurentino, Lauro Muller, Marazion, Massaranduba, Meleiro, Major Gercino, Smokey Hill, Great Hill, New Venice, Palhoça, Torres Strait, Big Rocks, Porto Belo , Rio do Campo, Sao Pedro de Alcantara, South Santa Rosa, Santo Amaro da Imperatriz, São Bento do Sul, South San Francisco, South San Juan, St. Martin, Siderópolis, dingy, St. Joseph, St. Joseph's Cerrito Taio, Cloudy, South Timbé, Treviso, Shark and Urussanga.


Losses 

The municipalities are working together with the Civil Defense to serve the affected population. Donations were arrecados and distributed in Cricklewood. According to preliminary surveys, the rains caused damage estimated at $ 400 million. F The President announced the release of $ 40 million to help rebuild the cities affected by rainfall in Santa Catarina.

Flood hits the Brazil To Peru

The Transoceanic Highway, which links Brazil to Peru, was banned because of the floodthat left the Rio Acre Iñapari throughout the city, located along the road under water.




According to the clerk of the Federal Police in Epitaciolândia, Socorro Martins, which provides information on the situation of the international route, vehicles such as cars and trucks are returning.


Several people who have moved on Friday (02.17.2012) of Brazilian cities, as Brasiléia,Epitaciolândia and Rio Branco, for the Carnival in Cuzco had to return due to the ban."Nobody is going. The river is passing over the highway and by the end of the bridge'', said the servant of the Federal Police.


In Iñapari, Rio Acre desabriga three thousand people. It is full of the biggest ever in the region. The town that became known throughout the country, as the site that housedhundreds of Haitians trying to enter through the Acre in Brazil, had all the streets andhouses invaded by water.

Neither the central city area, where they are located in the central square and church escaped. The 3000 city residents are homeless.

 

In addition to the boats, tractors and trucks can only walk on the flooded streets to helpresidents to remove their belongings.
All homes and businesses were invaded by the muddy waters.
Already in Assis Brazil, two neighborhoods that have been achieved by the water are getting help from the army, City Hall and solidary people.
300 people are homeless.


Source: The Gazeta.Net and Ac24horas


Please be advised that the Pacific Highway is already released for the road traffic!