2023 São Paulo floods and landslides

During the 2023 Brazilian Carnival holiday weekend, record-breaking rainfall—reaching 682 mm (26.9 in) in 24 hours—caused deadly floods and landslides across the state of São Paulo. At least 65 people were killed, of which 64 were in São Sebastião.[1]

2023 São Paulo floods and landslides
A landslide along highway SP-55 in Ubatuba, near Lagoinha
Date18-23 February 2023
LocationSão Paulo, Brazil
CauseHeavy rains
Deaths65
Non-fatal injuries24
Missing58

Background

The affected regions of São Paulo are located in coastal communities surrounded by mountains.[2] On 18–19 February 2023, an area of low pressure off the coast of Brazil brought moist onshore flow, leading to significant rainfall in the region. The São Paulo mountains enhanced the rainfall through an orographic lift.[3] A total of 682 mm (26.9 in) fell in just 24 hours in Bertioga just outside of São Sebastião. The city observed 626 mm (24.6 in) in the same period. Other significant totals include 395 mm (15.6 in) in Guarujá, 337 mm (13.3 in) in Ilhabela, and 335 mm (13.2 in) in Ubatuba.[4][5] The rainfall in Bertioga was the greatest such total in a 24-hour span on record in the country. This far exceeded the previous record of 530 mm (21 in) on 15 February 2022, which caused deadly floods in Petrópolis.[5] Meteorologists at MetSul Meteorologia suggested this could be among the highest non-tropical cyclone rainfall totals in the world.[3]

Further rains on 21 February exacerbated conditions.[6] The local meteorological agency warned of further rains on 22 and 23 February.[7]

Impact

The prolific rains caused a cascade of landslides and mudslides across São Paulo, with the city of São Sebastião being especially hard-hit. As of 21 February, authorities confirmed 44 fatalities, with 43 of those in São Sebastião and the rest in Ubatuba.[6][8] As of 26 February, the number of deaths increased to 65, with 64 of those in São Sebastião.[1] A further 24 people suffered injuries, six seriously,[7] and dozens of people remain missing. At least 50 homes were destroyed in São Sebastião.[9] At least 2,496 people were displaced or left homeless.[5] The Rio-Santos highway, the main road in the region connecting it to Rio de Janeiro state,[2] suffered extensive damage, with numerous landslides covering or destroying stretches of the road.[10] Another road connecting Santos with Bertioga was blocked off.[2]

Landslides from the rainfall on 21 February impacted Juqueí, displacing 80 people.[6]

Wind exceeding 55 km/h (34 mph; 30 kn) and waves of more than 1 m (3.3 ft) prompted the closure of the Port of Santos on 18 February.[8]

Response
Lula and Tarcísio de Freitas during the visit to the affected areas

Local emergency management agencies quickly dispatched more than 100 firefighters for search and rescue operations.[8] By 21 February, more than 600 personnel from the Government of the State of São Paulo, the Brazilian Army, the Federal Police, the municipal government of São Sebastião, and volunteers were on the ground searching for survivors.[5] A two-year-old and a mother in the middle of giving birth were rescued from what they called "a sea of mud".[8] By 21 February, 7.5 tons of relief goods including food, water and hygiene kits were distributed in São Paulo.[2] Some aid efforts were hampered due to criminal activities like looting trucks carrying donations.[11]

Governor Tarcísio de Freitas declared a state of emergency for 5 cities on 20 February.[8] A 180-day "state of calamity" was subsequently declared for São Paulo.[12] That day, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva toured the affected areas and stated that São Sebastião would be rebuilt in safer areas. He advised those living on the hillsides to move to other locations.[2][6] On 22 February, the NAM Atlântico set sail from the Rio de Janeiro Navy Arsenal with a field hospital on board, with a capacity that could be increased to up to 300 beds.[2][13] The vessel arrived at the port of São Sebastião on 23 February, also carrying 28 medics of several specialties including surgeons, dentists and orthopedists, as well as 180 marines who were designated to operate heavy machinery in aid of the search and rescue efforts.[14]

Brazilian Carnival festivities were cancelled in Bertioga, Ilhabela, São Sebastião, and Ubatuba.[6]

See also

References
  1. Andrade, Tainá (26 February 2023). "Corpo de último desaparecido na Vila Sahy, em São Sebastião, é encontrado". Correio Braziliense (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  2. Pollastri, Tatiana; Hughes, Eléonore (21 February 2023). "Brazil deluge toll hits 44 as search continues for missing". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  3. Nachtigall, Luiz F. (19 February 2023). "Chuva de quase 700 mm inunda Litoral de São Paulo e vai sequir". MetSul Meteorologia (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  4. Davies, Richard (20 February 2023). "Brazil – 680mm of Rain in 24 Hours Triggers Floods and Landslides in São Paulo, Dozens Killed". Flood List. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  5. Davies, Richard (21 February 2023). "Brazil – Death Toll Rises in Sao Paulo Floods and Landslides". Flood List. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  6. "Death toll from flooding in Brazil rises to 44". Al Jazeera. 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  7. "Brazil – Floods and landslides, update (Government of Sao Paulo, INMET, CEMADEN) (ECHO Daily Flash of 21 February 2023)". ReliefWeb. European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  8. "Floods, landslides kill dozens in Brazil's Sao Paulo state". Al Jazeera. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  9. "Brazil – Floods and landslides (INMET, CEMADEN, media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 20 February 2023)". ReliefWeb. European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  10. "Death toll from flooding in Brazil rises, Lula visits disaster-hit region". France24. 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  11. "Brazil floods: death toll rises to 48 as landslides and looters prevent aid reaching survivors". The Guardian. 23 February 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  12. "Deadly rains and landslides batter Brazil's São Paulo during carnival festivities". CNN. 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  13. "Marinha envia o maior navio da frota para atuar no litoral de SP; conheça" [Navy sends the largest ship in the fleet to operate on the coast of São Paulo]. UOL Notícias (in Brazilian Portuguese). 22 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  14. "Maior navio da Marinha chega a São Sebastião com hospital de campanha para atender vítimas de temporal devastador" [Largest Navy ship arrives in São Sebastião with field hospital to care for victims of devastating storm]. g1 (in Portuguese). 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
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