It was the fourth major flooding event
in five months, underlining a lack of urban planning in low-income neighbourhoods
throughout much of Brazil, where shantytowns are often built on hillsides prone
to collapse. The destruction also comes as scientists begin to question whether
abnormal rain cycles in Latin America's largest nation could be a result of
climate change. As of Sunday afternoon, 56 people had
died in the northeastern state of Pernambuco and one died in the neighbouring
state of Alagoas, according to a message posted on Twitter by the Federal Civil
Defense service, which is in charge of emergency management. Another 56 people
in Pernambuco were missing. Between those two states, over 6,000
people had arrived at government-designated aid points and more than 7,000 were
staying with friends or relatives, the Federal Civil Defense service said. In a Twitter post, Brazilian President
Jair Bolsonaro said he would arrive in Recife, the hard-hit capital of
Pernambuco, on Monday morning. "Our government made available,
since the beginning, all means, including the armed forces, to help those who
have been affected," he wrote. In late December and early January,
dozens were killed and tens of thousands displaced when rains hammered Bahia
state, also located in northeastern Brazil. At least 18 died in flooding in the
southeastern state of Sao Paulo later in January. In February, torrential
downpours in Rio de Janeiro state killed over 230. 