Extreme crises: Minas Gerais suffers from drought and rain.
After enduring one of the worst droughts of the summer, Minas Gerais is also suffering from heavy rains that are flooding the state; approximately 3000 people are homeless in six municipalities across various regions of the state; in some places, the rain has caused school closures, accidents, and even deaths.
Minas 247 - Minas Gerais has been suffering from water scarcity in recent months, the topic has been widely debated, and even rationing has been considered for the state. But the last few days have brought rain to dry regions, and what should be a cause for joy has become a tragedy.
Flooding resulting from storms in Minas Gerais has already displaced nearly 3.000 people in the state and damaged 355 houses in six municipalities. “It was very frightening. The heat was unbearable, and then the storm came, raising the levels of the Vassouras and Santo Antônio rivers by up to a meter and a half,” said Maria Aparecida de Oliveira, municipal secretary of Social Assistance in Itaverava, in the Zona da Mata region.
In the northern part of the state, the region that suffers most from drought throughout the year, a strong storm hit the city of Januária, flooding houses and streets. In the municipality, schools suffered from flooding and classes were interrupted. “There were 45 days without rain in the city, and the level of the São Francisco River was very low. What was most surprising was that there was no forecast of such intense rainfall, and then a storm came all at once,” explained the coordinator of the municipality's Civil Defense, Abel Barcellos.
Source: State of Minas