A task force was set up at the Municipal Cemetery of Petrópolis to receive the more than 100 victims of the rain. In the upper part, where there used to be a grassland, several men are clearing the ground and hastily digging new holes in the earth. The movement in the place, which in the morning was quiet, intensified from the afternoon of this Thursday (17), with one burial taking place after another.
Because of the steep location where the new graves are being dug, the coffins have to be carried on the shoulders by family and friends of the victims. According to a local official, 24 graves were opened today alone.
One of the victims buried today was Zilmar Ramos, who died inside a bus swallowed by the force of the waters on Tuesday afternoon (15), according to his daughter, Vitória Ramos Alves.
“She was going to get my sister, desperate not to know [notícias]. It was the last time we got to talk to her. She didn’t have time to get out when the bus crashed. She was a force of nature. Nobody stopped her. She embraced and defended everyone.”
Deborah Linstenberg, 22, was a victim of the collapse caused by heavy rains, and died with her two young children, Gustavo, 5 years old, and Heloise, 2 and a half years old. The three were buried together.
“She was at home with the children when the rain came. She unfortunately had no way to help them. It is a pain that has no words, losing our loved ones, our little children. Is very sad. Only Jesus”, reported Gerson da Silva Souza, who was Débora’s brother-in-law.
In addition to more than 100 deaths recorded by local authoritiesthe Civil Police still counts 134 people missing in the city.
