Brazil: Heavy Rains in Pernambuco Leave 84 Dead So Far

According to local authorities, more than 100 millimeters of rainfall in just a few hours this weekend in several parts of Greater Recife has left 84 people dead and about 56 missing.

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The Pernambuco Water and Climate Agency (Apac) predicted the storm that caused collapsed barriers, flooding and numerous disturbances in the region. According to the Fire Department, several landslides and collapses occurred. The department said that all personnel has been activated and that the priority is "relief and rescue assistance to populations in imminent danger."

The death toll from the rains in the state of Pernambuco has risen to 84. Of the 84 victims, 79 died between Friday night and Sunday, Paulo Camara, the local governor, said.

The Minister of Regional Development, Daniel Ferreira, warned the affected population to follow Civil Defense guidelines to protect themselves. "With the heavy rains that are expected, we will maintain the self-protection measures, to respect the local Civil Defense alerts and disseminate regionalized updates," the official said.

The number of deaths from rains in the state of Pernambuco rises to 84 in the northeast of Brasil.

Since the beginning of last week, heavy rains have been occurring in the regions of Alagoas, Paraíba, Sergipe, and Rio Grande do Norte, which have intensified in recent days.

Thirty meters of the wall at Recife International Airport were knocked down due to this weekend's heavy rains. However, the entity reported on Saturday that the airport would not stop its activities, noting that a temporary fence is being installed along with surveillance equipment.