“So many of you are missing, so many have suffered damage… I send you my closeness, the security of my prayers. May God bless you greatly,” the Argentine Pope said in a video published on Vatican News social networks, the Vatican’s official information site.
Sao Sebastiao, a beachfront tourist destination about 200 km from the city of Sao Paulo, received more than 680 millimeters of rain in 24 hours, more than double what was expected for the entire month and the highest volume recorded at a day in history has accumulated Brazil, according to the authorities.
“So far, 54 deaths have been confirmed,” including “16 men, 16 women and 15 children” who have already been identified, said the state government of Sao Paulo on Friday, whose previous record was 50 deaths.
Authorities estimate that around 30 people are missing and are continuing the search in the neighborhoods hardest hit by the landslides and floods.
According to official figures, more than 4,000 people were forced from their homes.
Sao Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas on Thursday acknowledged that the system of alerting the population via SMS was not enough to prevent the tragedy and announced the installation of sirens in risk areas and the construction of houses for the homeless.
Experts attribute these types of extreme events to a combination of the effects of climate change and uncontrolled urbanization.
In Brazil, 9.5 million people live in risk areas threatened by landslides or floods.