2010 Northeastern Brazil floods
{{Short description|none}}
{{infobox weather event
|image=Brazil (orthographic projection).svg
|caption=
|name=2010 Northeastern Brazil floods
}}{{Infobox weather event/History
|duration=mid-June 2010
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
|affected=Alagoas and Pernambuco, Brazil
|damages=Unknown
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
The 2010 Northeastern Brazil rains caused widespread flooding in the second half of June 2010. The flooding mainly hit Alagoas and Pernambuco,{{cite news|title=Brazil fears floods death toll may rise|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/06/21/brazil.floods/index.html?hpt=T1|accessdate=23 June 2010|newspaper=Cable News Network|date=June 22, 2010}} where entire villages were carried away, killing dozens and causing hundreds to disappear.
President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva convened an emergency session to arrange for the distribution of aid. The distribution of aid was complex, because the affected cities were isolated rural areas with few intact roads (in Pernambuco 79 bridges in critical areas were destroyed by the flood). Lula also cancelled a trip to Canada for a meeting of the G20 major economies.
Flood details
At least 44 people were killed, some 1,000 are missing, including 500 in União dos Palmares and at least 120,000{{cite news|last=TODAY|first=AP|title=Brazil scrambles to aid flood victims after 41 killed; estimated 120,000 now driven from homes|url=http://www.todayonline.com/BreakingNews/EDC100622-0000321/Brazil--Govt-scrambling-to-aid-flood-victims-in-northeast-41-dead,-113,000-driven-from-homes|accessdate=23 June 2010|newspaper=TODAYonline|date=June 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622002444/http://www.todayonline.com/BreakingNews/EDC100622-0000321/Brazil--Govt-scrambling-to-aid-flood-victims-in-northeast-41-dead,-113,000-driven-from-homes|archive-date=22 June 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} had to leave their homes.{{cite news|title=Floods in north-east Brazil kill dozens of people|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/latin_america/10372362.stm|accessdate=23 June 2010|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=23 June 2010}} Entire towns were destroyed.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65M6TR20100624|title=Rescuers rush aid to Brazil flood towns; 44 dead|date=23 June 2010|work=Reuters|accessdate=23 June 2010}} Dams burst and river levels rose, engulfing entire towns. Electricity and telephone services were disrupted and destroyed.{{cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/06/201062251848225218.html|title=Dozens killed in Brazil floods|work=Aljazeera}} The homeless collected in schools and churches in their search for shelter.{{cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/06/2010623204827268861.html|title=Hundreds missing in Brazil floods|date=24 June 2010|work=Aljazeera|accessdate=24 June 2010}}
The Mundau river in Alagoas State flooded Uniao dos Palmares, causing the disappearance of at least 500 people. Corpses floated along on the beaches and in the rivers. Over 40,000 houses in Alagoas were flooded, affecting 22 towns. The death toll at one point of time in Alagoas was 26 and in Pernambuco state was 13.
Rio Largo in Alagoas had its banks completely destroyed by water due to a dam collapse, leaving only a mangled railway and muddy ruins. A search is underway there for survivors.{{needs update|date=May 2018}}
Weather officials in Alagoas predicted rain until at least June 25, 2010. More than {{convert|40|cm}} of rain fell over a four-day period.
Response
President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met in an emergency session with the governors of both states to decide how to distribute emergency funds. The federal government sent supplies to the disrupted areas, consisting of R$100 million reais in funds, 20,000 food baskets, mattresses and blankets. 10 tons of supplies were delivered by 24 June which is not yet enough to cover the large amounts of destruction. Emergency services and the military embarked on missions to ensure supplies were safely delivered to isolated towns. There were difficulties with the delivery of aid as roads and rail routes were affected by the floods. This led to some citizens to retrieve their food from the mud for eating instead. On 24 June, the federal government announced it would grant an additional R$500 million reais for emergency relief efforts in the two states.{{cite news|url=http://g1.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2010/06/governo-vai-liberar-mais-r-500-milhoes-para-pe-e-al-diz-deputado.html|title=Governo vai liberar mais R$ 500 milhões para PE e AL, diz deputado|date=24 June 2010|work=G1|accessdate=24 June 2010|language=pt}}
President Lula cancelled his trip to Canada for the meeting of the G20 major economies as the situation unfolded, sending economy minister Guido Mantega instead.{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/relief-reaches-brazil-flood-victims-20100626-zab1.html|title=Relief reaches Brazil flood victims|date=26 June 2010|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=26 June 2010}} Those affected by the floods watched the Brazil national football team take on the Portugal national football team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in makeshift shelters.
There are plans to relocate the entire city of Branquinha, one of the most damaged cities in Alagoas,{{cite news|url=http://odia.terra.com.br/portal/brasil/html/2010/6/cidade_deve_mudar_de_lugar_apos_chuva_90992.html|title=Cidade deve mudar de lugar após chuva|date=24 June 2010|work=O Dia|accessdate=24 June 2010|language=pt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628150222/http://odia.terra.com.br/portal/brasil/html/2010/6/cidade_deve_mudar_de_lugar_apos_chuva_90992.html|archive-date=28 June 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} to a higher place near the main highways. No public service buildings were left standing{{according to whom|date=May 2018}} and the State Secretary of Health issued{{when|date=May 2018}} concerns{{which|date=May 2018}} about contaminated water causing diseases.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2010/06/23/14492951.html Picture of Barreiros] - Toronto Sun
- [http://blogs.aljazeera.net/americas/2010/06/23/destruction-brazils-northeast Destruction in Brazil's northeast] - Aljazeera (includes photos) - Gabriel Elizondo