At least eight people have died after heavy rains hit several regions of Brazil, plunging more than a million homes into darkness, mainly in the state of Sao Paulo, authorities said.
Heavy rains have fallen since Friday in the center and southeast of the country, with precipitation reaching up to 100 millimeters per day, winds blowing at 100 km/h and episodes of hail, according to the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet).
In Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state, seven people lost their lives. Fire crews and civil defense responded to more than 500 incidents, including falling trees and collapsing walls, according to the state government.
The bad weather also disrupted water distribution in certain areas of Sao Paulo, due to the widespread power outage, the local government said on Saturday. Much of the state was plunged into darkness, with at least 1.6 million homes without power, said energy group Enel, which also reported significant damage requiring reconstruction of electrical infrastructure over several kilometers.
In Brasilia, a soldier was killed and another injured after a tree fell while they were carrying out a maneuver in front of the military police headquarters, the region’s military command confirmed.
These heavy rains come after one of the most severe droughts in Brazilian history, which led to large-scale fires.
With MAP
