Amid the catastrophe caused by the rains in Petrópolis, in the mountainous region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, residents are looking for missing family members on their own. Heard by Agência Brasil, they reported that they spent the last night with hoes and even with their bare hands, looking for survivors among the rubble. The death total is now 58.
“I’m looking for my father and mother,” said Danter Menezes who, since 3 am today (16), has been with his brother, Simon Menezes, in the place where his parents’ house was, in Morro da Oficina, in the Top of the Sierra. “I’m sure they are here, they were in the living room, the furniture is all here, I found their documents,” he said.
The region was one of the hardest hit. There alone, according to residents, more than 50 houses collapsed as a result of the landslides. Danter does not live there. As soon as he learned of the tragedy, he tried to contact the parents, but was unable to reach them and went there immediately.
The brother’s house, which is in the same area, is also at risk of collapsing. “I’m taking my brother, nephew and sister-in-law to my house. They live in that house that is cracked and at risk of falling,” explained Danter.
José Costa lives in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, and, as soon as he heard about the disaster, he went to Petrópolis to help his son, Marcelo Castro, whose house was washed away by the rains. They also search on their own for Marcelo’s wife, who was at home when the landslide occurred.
“He called me and I came because at a time like this it’s difficult. [escavar] around the house, taking out what had to be taken out of clay”, José reported.
Alone, Paulo Eckardt looks for his mother, Antonieta, 99, who was at home when everything collapsed. He tried to get there yesterday, but he couldn’t. “She’s inside the room, under that barrier. She has to wait now to get the body out,” he said very sadly. He lived with his mother and has no hope that she is alive. “The boy said [ela] is buried. Has no way. don’t have a chance [de alguém] being alive, it’s pure land, no chance, even more so at her age”.
Today, the streets of Petrópolis are covered in mud. The rugged terrain of the hills and the still very wet land make searching difficult. The Fire Department can’t handle all the work. The population helps in the search for survivors and for bodies. The work is slow, as the victims can be alive amid the rubble, in spaces with air. The excavation is done slowly. Firefighters say they are exhausted. Some have been in action for two days, amending working hours.
With cloudy weather, many people are also leaving their homes in fear of new rains and landslides. Many are on the streets with suitcases and bags. Communication in the city was impaired, electricity and internet are lacking in many places. As there are many loose wires in the streets, so that there are no accidents, the power was turned off in some locations.
victims
So far, 58 people have died as a result of the floods and bad weather that hit Petrópolis, according to the State Civil Defense. Firefighters continue to search for the missing, as several landslides and flooding have been recorded in the city.
The Civil Police and the Public Ministry of Rio set up task forces to help identify dead bodies and search for the missing. A structure was erected next to the Regional Scientific Technical Police Post (PRPTC) in Petrópolis to preserve the bodies.
The state secretary of Civil Defense of Rio de Janeiro, Leandro Monteiro, asked people to donate mineral water to the fire stations, so that it can be delivered to Petrópolis.
There are also several points that are receiving donations, such as the Petrópolis City Council, which is accepting non-perishable food, water, clean clothes for all ages, personal hygiene products, cleaning products, underwear and bedding, among others. .
