Civil Defense issues ‘extreme alert’ due to rainfall that exceeds 150 mm in 24 hours; sirens were activated and support points are open to the population
The city of Petrópolis, in the Serrana region, entered the alert stage this Wednesday (17) after being hit by a strong storm that caused severe flooding and landslides. The municipal Civil Defense activated sirens at several points and issued an “extreme alert” to the population, classifying the situation as the fourth most severe level on a scale of five.
Images recorded in the city show the force of the water transforming streets and avenues into rivers, with currents capable of dragging and submerging vehicles. According to the Secretary of Protection and Civil Defense, Guilherme Moraes, monitoring began at 5 am. Accumulations of rain exceeding 60 millimeters were recorded in just one hour. In total over the last 24 hours, the volume of water has already exceeded 150 mm, a rate much higher than expected for the period.
In the Independência neighborhood, one of the hardest hit, the rainfall reached 84.99 mm in a short space of time.
Restrictions in the city
Given the risk scenario, the municipality’s routine was changed. Classes in the municipal education network were suspended and Civil Defense advised that businesses in the Historic Center remain closed to ensure the safety of society.
Public transport also suffered disruptions. Bus circulation in the first district, the urban heart of Petrópolis, was completely interrupted in the morning due to flooding, being gradually released before 10 am. The agency recommends that the population avoid traveling through flooded areas and not remain in closed areas.
To serve residents of at-risk areas, the city hall opened 13 support points in locations such as Quitandinha, 24 de Maio, Vila Felipe, São Sebastião and Alto Independência. Some of these points operate in the schools that had their activities suspended.
History of tragedies
The current situation revives the recent memory of climate tragedies in the region. In 2022, storms left almost 260 people dead in the city, which is still undergoing infrastructure recovery processes. Petrópolis was also one of the municipalities most affected in the 2011 disaster in the Mountain Region.
Situation in the State of Rio
The storm affects other regions of the state. The capital of Rio de Janeiro is in operational stage 2, with a risk of high-impact events. In the West Zone of Rio, in Campo Grande, passengers had to be rescued by firefighters after being trapped in a bus.
In Angra dos Reis, in the south of the state, the Ariró river overflowed its banks and wind gusts reached 77 km/h. The state government activated the Rain Committee and keeps secretariats and security forces on alert to assist municipalities.
*With information from Rodrigo Viga and Agência Brasil
Published by Nícolas Robert
