China News Agency, Sao Paulo, January 31 (Reporter Mo Chengxiong) The Civil Protection Department of Sao Paulo State, Brazil reported on January 31, local time, that as of 17:00 that day, the death toll due to heavy rain in parts of the state had risen to 24, and there were still 8 people disappeared. The day before, the state reported a death toll of 19 from torrential rains.
In recent days, parts of the state have been hit by torrential rains, and 11 cities in the Sao Paulo metropolitan area have been severely affected, the São Paulo State Civil Protection Department said. On January 31, the worst-hit city of Franco da Rocha found five more victims. So far, floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the state have killed 24 people and left eight others missing. In addition, 660 people are homeless across the state.
At least 10 of the 24 killed were minors, including eight children and two teenagers. Among them, a family of five and three were killed in landslides in Varzea Paulista and Embu das Artes respectively.
The state government of Sao Paulo announced on January 30 that the state has established a joint working group composed of the fire department, military police and civil protection department to be responsible for the flood relief, and will invest 15 million reais (about 2.79 million US dollars) in a special fund. It is used for resettlement of affected people and post-disaster reconstruction.
At present, the search for missing persons in the disaster area is still intensified. (Finish)