Natural catastrophes

25.11, flooding, fatalities

Brazil: landslides and floods in southern Brazil killed at least 50 people and forced 42,000 more from their homes after four months of abnormally heavy rains in Santa Catarina state. More than 1.5 million people were affected by the rains. Landslides covered roads, cut electricity and gas supplies and forced the cancellation of classes in municipal and state schools. More than 137,000 houses, or 6% of the state’s total, had no electricity, according to a statement from state energy company, Centrais Eletricas de Santa Catarina. The most affected cities were Blumenau and Itajai. Rains damaged a gas pipeline between Bolivia and Brazil, interrupting natural gas shipments to at least five cities in Santa Catarina and Blumenau, according to a statement by the state gas company, Companhia de Gas de Santa Catarina. Damage to roads may exceed 30mn reais ($13mn), Santa Catarina Infrastructure Secretary Romualdo Franca said in a statement.