EIGHTEEN individuals have died from heavy rains that have battered Bahia in Brazil since last month, said authorities yesterday, amid incessant torrents that have displaced 35,000 people.

Bahia firefighters confirmed the death of a man, 60, who drowned in a river in the south of the state yesterday.

State civil protection agency Sudec said two people are missing, while 19,580 have been displaced and 16,001 more forced to seek shelter, bringing the total number of individuals driven from their houses to 35,000.

It said 286 people have been injured since the start of the downpours. More than 430,800 individuals have been impacted, and the situation has only worsened in recent days.

Sudec said the number of municipalities in a state of emergency has risen to 72 by yesterday afternoon, of which 58 are in crisis due to flooding.

“It is an enormous tragedy,” said Governor Rui Costa, who surveyed damaged areas by plane yesterday.

“I do not remember something of this dimension in Bahia’s recent history. The number of homes, streets and towns completely under water is truly terrifying.”

Since Saturday, a joint operation of federal and state emergency services has been mobilised to rescue thousands of residents trapped by the floods. – AFP, December 27, 2021.