The intense rains in Petrópolis are already considered the worst climatic tragedy experienced in the Brazilian city, with more than 150 deaths

The strong rainstorm that devastated part of the Brazilian city of Petrópolis (southeast) has already caused 152 deaths and almost 200 injuries , while the searches for the dozens of missing persons continue this Sunday amid great difficulties.

The former “imperial city”, located in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro , is trying to gradually return to normality thanks to the extensive social mobilization of volunteers, after suffering the heaviest rainfall in almost a century.

The storm has left a trail of destruction in its wake since Tuesday , in what is already the worst climatic tragedy in Petrópolis , surpassing similar episodes that occurred in 1988 and 2011, when dozens of people also lost their lives.

In addition to the 152 dead and nearly 200 injured, according to the latest balance of Civil Defense, the Police has a provisional list of about 150 missing, although other agencies handle a lower number.

In fact, the number of missing persons has decreased in recent hours, as the victims have been identified and the data of the around 850 evicted people who receive assistance at one of the support points set up in the municipality have been crossed.

Risk of new landslides
Still, the searches continue, but under extremely difficult conditions. On Thursday, new showers were recorded that caused more flooding and left the ground on which the rescue brigades operate even more unstable.

In the last six days, Civil Defense has reported 775 incidents of landslides .

In addition, the warning sirens for heavy rains were activated again on Saturday and this Sunday the forecast is for more rainfall to occur.

Given this scenario, the more than 500 firefighters operating in the area were forced to interrupt their work several times over the weekend. They also had to work in poor visibility due to the intermittent presence of fog banks.

So far, 24 people have been rescued alive from the rubble, as well as more than 200 pets, according to official sources.

“The teams are working to deal with new incidents, carry out inspections in the affected areas, clean the city, clear the roads, welcome families and reinforce all our health units,” said the mayor of Petrópolis, Rubens Bomtempo, in a note .

This same Sunday, the municipal authorities recommended to the 300,000 inhabitants of Petrópolis not to leave their homes, except in cases of “extreme necessity”, to facilitate the cleaning of the roads, converted into a real quagmire, and to be able to normalize traffic.

In this process, 313 vehicles have been removed so far from the rivers and streets of the city that were dragged violently during the storm.

A birth in full tragedy
In the midst of the enormous desolation that has taken over Petrópolis, life also makes its way.

This Sunday, a baby was born in a school transformed these days into a support point to welcome people who have been left with nothing by the catastrophe.

Giovana Cerqueira, a 19-year-old pregnant woman, approached the place where her mother is currently staying to alert her that she was feeling pain, according to the Petrópolis Mayor’s Office.

Immediately, the medical team that worked in that school got down to work.

I was having strong contractions. We called Civil Defense, which in turn called an ambulance, but it didn’t give them time. The baby was born right here. She was the most exciting thing I have ever seen in my life”, narrated the director of the Bom Jesus Parish School, Renata Zacharsk.

Her name, Anne Alice. She and her mother are fine and are already resting in a hospital in the region.