Douglas Corrêa, Vitor Abdala Reporters and Newsroom      Agência Brasil

Rio de Janeiro – The mayor of the town of Campos de Goytacazes, Rosinha Garotinho, says that most of the families near the area known as Três Vendas where a highway-dike holding back waters from the Muriaé River burst have been sent to shelters run by the city. According to Civil Defense officials, some 1,200 families live in the area, around 4,000 people.

“We have set up tents for them. Some people do not want to leave, but we are explaining just how dangerous the situation is and have soldiers and firemen assisting in the removal, along with 22 trucks that will transport people and their belongings. We have set up a first aid station on high ground with a staff of health care providers,” declared Rosinha.

Thirty soldiers and thirty firemen are setting up some 250 tents (each one can accommodate six people comfortably). Civil Defense authorities have also taken over a public school in a neighboring town to accommodate victims.

At the same time, the Red Cross reports that trucks loaded with donations (basic food baskets, bed clothing, cleaning materials and drinking water) have been arriving in the area.

Campos dos Goytacazes was already having serious problems with the Paraíba do Sul River raging along at eleven meters above flood levels. At least 600 people had already been forced to leave their homes before the Muriaé River highway-dike burst on Thursday. 

According to Civil Defense, in spite of the critical situation only one death due to the rains and flooding has been reported in the region.

The dike that burst is located on the BR-356 highway, part of which was washed away, and the accident this week (December 5) is in the same place where the same dike burst in 2008. Civil Defense officials called for repairs on the highway-dike this December after problems with infiltration were discovered. It is reported that repairs were made. 

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

 Link - Exército e bombeiros ajudam retirar pessoas da região atingida por água de dique que se rompeu no norte fluminense

Link - Maioria das pessoas ameaçadas por água de dique que se rompeu já foi retirada da região atingida, diz prefeita de Campos

Link - Dique se rompe no norte fluminense e alaga área próxima à comunidade com 4 mil moradores