The mayor of Juiz de Fora (MG), Margarida Salomão, stated, this Friday (27), that one in four people in the city lives in a risk area and that interventions need to be carried out throughout the municipality to avoid new tragedies.
Landslides and floods, caused by the heavy rains that have hit the Zona da Mata in Minas Gerais since Monday (23), left 64 dead: 58 in Juiz de Fora and six in the municipality of Ubá.
“This sad tragedy is, in a way, a call from nature for all of us to pay attention. The city is – like Petrópolis [RJ]Angra [dos Reis -RJ]and so many cities here in this region – built in the mountains. People are occupying the slopes and it’s not just poor people, even the more fortunate population, the upper middle class, lives in places that are at risk.”
In interview to the program Hello Hello Brazilfrom the National RadioMargarida said that, this Friday (27), for example, there was a collapse of a house considered a mansion, but built on a hillside. One person died. According to the mayor, it is very difficult for people to leave these locations.
“Convincing people to give up their homes is almost like asking them to tear themselves away from their own bodies. Often, that home is the achievement of a lifetime.”
“It is truly a monstrous effort that we are making; we have to have a lot of patience, a lot of welcoming and listening skills to get people to leave”, added the mayor.
Experts consulted by Brazil Agency assess that the storms are reflection of neglect of climate change.
Lula’s visit
This Saturday (28), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visits and flies over the affected region. A meeting with local leaders is planned at Juiz de Fora city hall.
“[Ele] will be here tomorrow to offer comfort to the population of Juiz de Fora, Ubá and Matias Barbosa, which are the most affected areas, and bring resources so that we can rebuild the city”, he said during the interview.
The National Civil Defense has already recognized the state of public calamity in the three municipalities and the federal government has released more than R$3 million for assistance and reconstruction of the cities. Starting this Friday, residents will also be able to request withdrawal from the Service Time Guarantee Fund (FGTS). The amount to be withdrawn is limited to R$6,220.
According to the mayor, more than 500 people are in the city’s shelters and around 5,000 are homelessmany at relatives’ homes. Those who cannot return to their homes will enter the city hall’s housing program, initially with social rent until a permanent solution is reached.
“Right now, the effort is to repair, to respond to the emergency, but at the same time we are preparing to carry out the interventions that the city demands of us, so that it is defended as a space of coexistence and security.”
The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) maintains a danger alert for intense rain until 11:59 pm this Friday in Zona da Mata, with rain between 30 and 60 millimeters per hour or 50 and 100 mm/day and intense winds (60-100 km/h). The risk of electricity cuts, falling tree branches, flooding and electrical discharges remains.
See more details in the program Hello Hello Brazilfrom Rádio Nacional:
