2009 Brazilian floods and mudslides
Encyclopedia
The 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. Nineteen people were dead by 5 May 2009, with a significant increase in homeless people being reported, estimated at 186,000. The death toll by 8 May was thirty-nine and 270,000 people were reported homeless.
The state of Santa Catarina
in the South of the country has also been damaged. A total of seven states have been affected across the country. Maranhão
was the worst affected state, with at least six deaths and at least 40,700 homeless people occupying shelters.
The Amazon River Basin
suffered its second heaviest flood in one hundred years during this period. These are already the worst floods Brazil has experienced in over twenty years.
Reconstruction from the flood
s and mudslides are expected to take 3-5 years.
, both as a result of mudslides. The homeless were half in shelters and half in the care of relatives. Thirteen of the state's municipalities had declared state of emergency
.
On 23 April, it was reported that the disaster had already killed three people, including a one-month old child from Salvador
, the capital of Bahia
, who was suffocated by a mudslide. Over 33,000 people had been made homeless at that stage; 30,000 of these were in Maranhão and 3,400 were in the adjacent state of Bahia.
At least 3,000 people lost their homes in Santa Catarina
, whilst one died. The governor of Amazonas, Eduardo Braga
, initiated a state of emergency in every one of his state's sixty-two municipalities. Fourteen people were reported dead within one month and at least 62,600 others were left homeless by 2 May 2009.
Nineteen people were dead by 5 May 2009, as a sharp rise in homelessness occurred. Homeless totals have been estimated at 186,000 individuals. Images of citizens travelling around in boats and barely visible rooftops were broadcast on television. Emergency shelters were said to be "packed" with homeless people. At least six major highways were closed in Maranhão. A railway used to transport iron ore and 1,300 people each day was also shut down. The governor of the state of Piauí
declared state of emergency in nineteen of the state's towns and cities, and requested help from the military in rescuing people from the floods.
By this time, over 186,000 people were homeless. The death toll by 6 May was reported at twenty-nine.
The death toll by 8 May was thirty-nine and 270,000 people were reported homeless.
By 10 May, it was being reported that over 300,000 people were homeless and 44 had been killed.
, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
, inspected the damage by air and brought food to those displaced by the disaster. He commented: "We need to look more seriously into the climate situation these days. Something is changing and we still have time to fix it." (ie: Mass De-Forestation?) Brazil's Health Ministrer José Gomes Temporão
has promised to deliver medical supplies to Maranhão.
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...
and mudslides
Mudflow
A mudslide is the most rapid and fluid type of downhill mass wasting. It is a rapid movement of a large mass of mud formed from loose soil and water. Similar terms are mudflow, mud stream, debris flow A mudslide is the most rapid (up to 80 km/h, or 50 mph) and fluid type of downhill mass...
were a severe natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
principally affecting five Northeastern
Northeast Region, Brazil
The Northeast Region of Brazil is composed of the following states: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia, and it represents 18.26% of the Brazilian territory....
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. Nineteen people were dead by 5 May 2009, with a significant increase in homeless people being reported, estimated at 186,000. The death toll by 8 May was thirty-nine and 270,000 people were reported homeless.
The state of Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
in the South of the country has also been damaged. A total of seven states have been affected across the country. Maranhão
Maranhão
Maranhão is a northeastern state of Brazil. To the north lies the Atlantic Ocean. Maranhão is neighbored by the states of Piauí, Tocantins and Pará. The people of Maranhão have a distinctive accent...
was the worst affected state, with at least six deaths and at least 40,700 homeless people occupying shelters.
The Amazon River Basin
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
suffered its second heaviest flood in one hundred years during this period. These are already the worst floods Brazil has experienced in over twenty years.
Reconstruction from the 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...
s and mudslides are expected to take 3-5 years.
Developments
Heavy rain in Brazil began in early April 2009, affecting 40,000 people. 13,000 people were immediately left homeless and there were two quick deaths in Maranhão's state capital, São LuísSão Luís, Maranhão
São Luís is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Maranhão. The city is located on Ilha de São Luís in the Baía de São Marcos , an extension of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the estuary of Pindaré, Mearim, Itapecuru and other rivers. Its coordinates are 2.53° south, 44.30° west...
, both as a result of mudslides. The homeless were half in shelters and half in the care of relatives. Thirteen of the state's municipalities had declared state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
.
On 23 April, it was reported that the disaster had already killed three people, including a one-month old child from Salvador
Salvador, Bahia
Salvador is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The first...
, the capital of Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
, who was suffocated by a mudslide. Over 33,000 people had been made homeless at that stage; 30,000 of these were in Maranhão and 3,400 were in the adjacent state of Bahia.
At least 3,000 people lost their homes in Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
, whilst one died. The governor of Amazonas, Eduardo Braga
Carlos Eduardo de Sousa Braga
Carlos Eduardo de Sousa Braga is a Brazilian politician, businessman, and current senator representing the state of Amazonas....
, initiated a state of emergency in every one of his state's sixty-two municipalities. Fourteen people were reported dead within one month and at least 62,600 others were left homeless by 2 May 2009.
Nineteen people were dead by 5 May 2009, as a sharp rise in homelessness occurred. Homeless totals have been estimated at 186,000 individuals. Images of citizens travelling around in boats and barely visible rooftops were broadcast on television. Emergency shelters were said to be "packed" with homeless people. At least six major highways were closed in Maranhão. A railway used to transport iron ore and 1,300 people each day was also shut down. The governor of the state of Piauí
Piauí
Piauí is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country.Piauí has the shortest coastline of any of the non-landlocked Brazilian states at 66 km , and the capital, Teresina, is the only state capital in the north east to be located inland...
declared state of emergency in nineteen of the state's towns and cities, and requested help from the military in rescuing people from the floods.
By this time, over 186,000 people were homeless. The death toll by 6 May was reported at twenty-nine.
The death toll by 8 May was thirty-nine and 270,000 people were reported homeless.
By 10 May, it was being reported that over 300,000 people were homeless and 44 had been killed.
Reaction
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...
, inspected the damage by air and brought food to those displaced by the disaster. He commented: "We need to look more seriously into the climate situation these days. Something is changing and we still have time to fix it." (ie: Mass De-Forestation?) Brazil's Health Ministrer José Gomes Temporão
José Gomes Temporão
José Gomes Temporão is a Brazilian public health physician and politician from the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party. He took office as Brazilian Minister of Health on March 16, 2007, during the second term of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration.-Biography:José Gomes Temporão...
has promised to deliver medical supplies to Maranhão.
See also
- 2009 Messina floods and mudslides2009 Messina floods and mudslidesThe 2009 Messina floods and mudslides which occurred on the night of 1–2 October killed at least 31 people, mainly on the Ionian coast in the Province of Messina but also affected other parts of northeastern Sicily...
- 2009 El Salvador floods and mudslides2009 El Salvador floods and mudslidesThe 2009 El Salvador floods and mudslides were extreme weather events that killed 199 people with others 76 missing and left $239 million in damages in El Salvador, some unofficial sources have the death toll up to 275 people....
- 2010 northeastern Brazil floods2010 northeastern Brazil floodsThe 2010 northeastern Brazil rains caused widespread flooding 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....