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LINK CHANGE/ REUTERS/
ALSO, LATEST AP UPDATE, HERE:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/14/2016122/death-toll-rises-above-500-in.html
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/14/2016122/death-toll-rises-above-500-in.html
The heaviest rains in Rio's Serrana mountain region in 44 years have killed at least 529 people since Tuesday...with the number of dead still escalating.
More than 13,500 people are homeless with more than 5,000 destroyed homes.
The worst damage and deaths are in Teresopolis (pictured above) and Nova Friburgo.
More than 800 rescuers are searching both areas, hampered by the rain and mud.
The morgues there are reported to be full.
The area has received twice its average monthly rain. The overcrowding, flimsy construction on loose soils and lax building codes have only added to the disaster.
President Dilma Rousseff toured the area and described it like "mountains dissolving."
The Rio area will soon suffer spiking food prices because Serrana supplies fruit and vegetables to it.
But the flooding has not affected export cash crops like soy, sugar cane, oranges and coffee.
In fact, the ONLY good news is that the rains have helped those crops. The SE accounts for 84 percent of the nation’s coffee output and 12 percent of the grain production.
“At this stage of development, rainfall is coffee beans’ best friend,” Mario Ferraz told BLOOMBERG. “Heat and rain are shaping a very good crop.”
FOR 2:21 BBC Air View VIDEO,SEE:
More than 800 rescuers are searching both areas, hampered by the rain and mud.
The morgues there are reported to be full.
The area has received twice its average monthly rain. The overcrowding, flimsy construction on loose soils and lax building codes have only added to the disaster.
President Dilma Rousseff toured the area and described it like "mountains dissolving."
The Rio area will soon suffer spiking food prices because Serrana supplies fruit and vegetables to it.
But the flooding has not affected export cash crops like soy, sugar cane, oranges and coffee.
In fact, the ONLY good news is that the rains have helped those crops. The SE accounts for 84 percent of the nation’s coffee output and 12 percent of the grain production.
“At this stage of development, rainfall is coffee beans’ best friend,” Mario Ferraz told BLOOMBERG. “Heat and rain are shaping a very good crop.”
FOR 2:21 BBC Air View VIDEO,SEE:
TO SEE 19 SLIDES OF RIO FLOODING:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2011/jan/12/brazil-landslides-leave-hundreds-dead?intcmp=239
Officials also report that two drowned in Sao Paulo city (foto below) and 11 died elsewhere in the state from building collapses and landslides. Huge traffic problems were reported after the Tiete River flooded the main ring road around Sao Paulo.
