Rescue teams reported that amidst heavy rains in Rio de Janeiro state, at least seven fatalities occurred on Saturday. Among the survivors was a 4-year-old girl rescued after enduring over 16 hours buried under mud in Petropolis, approximately 69km (43 miles) north of Rio. The rescue operation had to halt temporarily on Friday night due to the looming threat of additional landslides in the vicinity.
Tragically, the girl’s father perished when their home collapsed. Remarkably, she survived because he shielded her with his body, according to rescue team members. Additionally, three other individuals lost their lives in the same calamity.
Officials, including Mayor and Governor Claudio Castro, had been issuing warnings to residents about potential hazards since Thursday, given the forecasted weather conditions.
Firefighters faced significant challenges in reaching those affected by the torrential rains, especially inhabitants of long-standing high-risk zones. Search and rescue efforts involved the deployment of trained canines, contributing to the successful extraction of nearly 100 individuals, as confirmed by authorities.