BRASILIA (AP) – Two dams broke northeast Brazil on Sunday, threatening to worsen flooding in an area where thousands of people have had to leave their homes due to torrential downpours.
The municipal governments of Jussiape and Itambe posted messages on social media calling on the population to flee to safe areas.
“A high-volume dam has ruptured and a flash flood is forecast shortly in the municipality of Itambe. All residents must evacuate from the shore of the Verruga River immediately, ”says the message posted on Instagram.
The press department of the Bahia state government reported that floods caused by rains have killed 18 people and affected 72 cities since the beginning of November, forcing more than 4,000 people to leave their homes and making it difficult to access several communities. .
“Right now we are acting to save people, to rescue people from the roofs of their houses with boats,” declared the governor of Bahia Rui Costa on a visit to the affected area on Sunday. He added that the authorities are trying to distribute food, mattresses and clothing among the population.
