2010 northeastern Brazil floods
Encyclopedia
The 2010 northeastern Brazil
rains caused widespread flood
ing in the second half of June 2010. The flooding has mainly hit Alagoas
and Pernambuco
, where entire villages were carried away, killing dozens and causing hundreds to disappear.
The rain is expected to continue. President of Brazil
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
convened an emergency session to arrange for the distribution of aid. The distribution of aid is complex, because the affected cities are 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.
and at least 120,000 had to leave their homes. Entire towns were destroyed. Dams burst and river levels rose, engulfing entire towns. Electricity and telephone services were disrupted and destroyed. The homeless collected in schools and churches in their search for shelter.
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 bank
s completely destroyed by water due to a dam collapse, leaving only a mangled railway and muddy ruins. A search is underway there for survivors.
Weather officials in Alagoas
predicted rain until at least June 25, 2010. More than 40 centimetres (15.7 in) of rain fell over a four-day period.
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.
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. 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, to a higher place near the main highways. No public services buildings were left standing, and the State Secretary of Health issued concerns about contaminated water causing diseases
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
rains caused widespread flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
ing in the second half of June 2010. The flooding has mainly hit Alagoas
Alagoas
Alagoas is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil and is situated in the eastern part of the Northeast Region. It borders: Pernambuco ; Sergipe ; Bahia ; and the Atlantic Ocean . It occupies an area of 27,767 km², being slightly larger than Haiti...
and Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
, where entire villages were carried away, killing dozens and causing hundreds to disappear.
The rain is expected to continue. President of Brazil
President of Brazil
The president of Brazil is both the head of state and head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces...
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
convened an emergency session to arrange for the distribution of aid. The distribution of aid is complex, because the affected cities are 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
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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 PalmaresUnião dos Palmares
União dos Palmares is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Alagoas. Its population was 59,369 and its area is 428 km². Surrounding agricultural land is largely dedicated to sugar cane and cattle. At one time, when the city was an active rail stop with regular passenger service, it...
and at least 120,000 had to leave their homes. Entire towns were destroyed. Dams burst and river levels rose, engulfing entire towns. Electricity and telephone services were disrupted and destroyed. The homeless collected in schools and churches in their search for shelter.
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
Rio Largo
Rio Largo is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Alagoas. Its population was 67,889 and its area is 309 km²....
in Alagoas had its bank
Fluvial
Fluvial is used in geography and Earth science to refer to the processes associated with rivers and streams and the deposits and landforms created by them...
s completely destroyed by water due to a dam collapse, leaving only a mangled railway and muddy ruins. A search is underway there for survivors.
Weather officials in Alagoas
Alagoas
Alagoas is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil and is situated in the eastern part of the Northeast Region. It borders: Pernambuco ; Sergipe ; Bahia ; and the Atlantic Ocean . It occupies an area of 27,767 km², being slightly larger than Haiti...
predicted rain until at least June 25, 2010. More than 40 centimetres (15.7 in) of rain fell over a four-day period.
Response
President of BrazilPresident of Brazil
The president of Brazil is both the head of state and head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces...
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
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.
President Lula cancelled his trip to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for the meeting of the G20 major economies
2010 G-20 Toronto summit
The 2010 G-20 Toronto summit was the fourth meeting of the G-20 heads of government, in discussion of the global financial system and the world economy, which took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, during June 26–27, 2010...
as the situation unfolded, sending economy minister Guido Mantega
Guido Mantega
Guido Mantega is a Brazilian economist, politician and currently Brazil's Finance Minister. He graduated in Economics from the Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade of the University of São Paulo and is a professor of Economics at several leading universities of São Paulo.He has...
instead. Those affected by the floods watched the Brazil national football team
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
take on the Portugal national football team
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
in makeshift shelters.
There are plans to relocate the entire city of Branquinha
Branquinha
Branquinha is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Alagoas. Its population is 13,217 and its area is 191 km². It was devastated by flooding in June 2010....
, one of the most damaged cities in Alagoas, to a higher place near the main highways. No public services buildings were left standing, and the State Secretary of Health issued concerns about contaminated water causing diseases
See also
- 2009 Brazilian floods and mudslides2009 Brazilian floods and mudslidesThe 2009 Brazilian floods and mudslides were a severe natural disaster principally affecting five Northeastern States of Brazil. As a result of heavy rains, fourteen people were reported dead over a period of one month and at least 62,600 others had been left homeless as of 2 May 2009...
- January 2010 Rio de Janeiro floods and mudslidesJanuary 2010 Rio de Janeiro floods and mudslidesThe January 2010 Rio de Janeiro floods and mudslides was an extreme weather event that affected the State of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in the first days of January 2010. At least 85 people died, with at least 29 people in the Hotel Sankey after it was destroyed by landslides, and many more have been...
- April 2010 Rio de Janeiro floods and mudslidesApril 2010 Rio de Janeiro floods and mudslidesThe April 2010 Rio de Janeiro floods and mudslides was an extreme weather event that has affected the State of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in the first days of April 2010. At least 212 people have died, 161 people have been injured , while at least 15,000 people have been made homeless...
- 2010 Tennessee floods2010 Tennessee floodsThe May 2010 Tennessee floods were 1000-year floods in Middle Tennessee, West Tennessee, south-central and western Kentucky and northern Mississippi as the result of torrential rains on May 1 and 2, 2010...
- 2010 Central European floods2010 Central European floodsThe 2010 Central European floods were a devastating series of weather events which occurred across several Central European countries during May, June and August 2010. Poland was the worst affected. Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia and Ukraine were also affected.At least...
- 2010 South China floods2010 South China floodsThe 2010 China floods began in early May 2010. 392 people had died, and a further 232 people had been reported missing as of June 30, 2010, including 57 people in a landslide in Guizhou. 53 of the deaths occurred from the flooding and landslides between May 31 and June 3, and 266 deaths occurred...
External links
- Picture of Barreiros - Toronto SunToronto SunThe Toronto Sun is an English-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for its daily Sunshine Girl feature and for what it sees as a populist conservative editorial stance.-History:...
- Destruction in Brazil's northeast - Aljazeera (includes photos) - Gabriel Elizondo