---
title: "Three dozen dead as Brazil rains cause calamity"
description: "SAO PAULO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Heavy rains in coastal areas of Brazil's southeast have caused flooding and landslides that killed 36 people and dislodged hundreds of others, according to a statement from Sao Paulo state authorities on Sunday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Brazil weather"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-20-three-dozen-dead-as-brazil-rains-cause-calamity/"
published: "2023-02-20T13:58:33"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 204
---

# Three dozen dead as Brazil rains cause calamity

> SAO PAULO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Heavy rains in coastal areas of Brazil's southeast have caused flooding and landslides that killed 36 people and dislodged hundreds of others, according to a statement from Sao Paulo state authorities on Sunday.

By Reuters · Published 20 February 2023, 15:58 SAST

## Key points
- Rescue teams are still searching for victims and clearing roads in Sao Paulo, Brazil, after heavy rain caused by the Carnival celebrations resulted in an unprecedented extreme weather event. A state of calamity has been declared for six cities as the death toll continues to rise. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to visit the affected areas on Monday, while the federal government has mobilised several ministries to help with relief efforts. The port of Santos, Latin America's largest, was temporarily closed due to high winds and waves. Rescue teams are working hard to reconnect isolated communities and restore infrastructure in order to aid those affected by this tragedy.
- Rescue workers continue to search for victims, reconnect isolated communities and clear roads in the aftermath of Brazil's Carnival celebrations.
- Heavy rains are forecasted to continue, raising the prospect of a higher death toll.
- The federal government has mobilised several ministries to assist victims, restore infrastructure and start reconstruction work.
- President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will visit the main affected areas on Monday.

## Content

Rescue workers continue to look for victims, reconnect isolated communities and clear roads, some of which remain blocked, trapping an undetermined number of tourists who traveled for [Brazil's Carnival celebrations](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N34M2I6&linkedFromStory=true).

Weather forecasts show heavy rains will continue in Sao Paulo's coastal area, challenging civil defense and fire department rescue teams and raising the prospect of a higher death toll.

The federal government determined the mobilization of several ministries to assist victims, restore infrastructure and start reconstruction work. Sao Paulo state declared a 180-day state of calamity for six cities after what experts described as an unprecedented, extreme weather event.

On Monday, Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas will meet federal officials as they coordinate the response to the tragedy, the statement said.

Operations at the port of Santos, Latin America's largest, were interrupted amid wind gusts exceeding 55 kpm (34 mph) and waves over one meter high on Saturday, according to a local news outlet.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was spending carnival in Bahia state in Brazil's northeast, is set to visit the main affected areas on Monday, his office said.

By Ana Mano

(Reporting by Ana Mano in São Paulo and Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasília; Editing by Diane Craft)