Climate emergency: rains cause death and destruction in Petrópolis

The city of Petrópolis, in the mountainous region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, was hit by heavy rains, leaving people dead and homeless. The city hall declared a state of public calamity.

In just six hours, the city registered an accumulated volume of water of 259 millimeters, above the expected average for the month (238.2 mm), causing floods and landslides. According to data from the State Civil Police Secretariat (Sepol), up to February 23, 198 deaths and 89 missing people were registered.

In repercussion to the press coverage of the occurrence, the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science (SBPC) declared that “a tragedy foretold is not a tragedy,” but rather “happens in good measure because of the negligence of the state.”