The official death toll following floods and landslides in south-eastern São Paulo, Brazil, has risen to 48, according to state officials.
Search and rescue teams are continuing to search the rubble of homes in the area for survivors, where more than more 23.6 inches of rain has caused floods and landslides.
More than 500 rescue workers have been searching the destroyed homes. They have cleared roads and tried to reconnect other isolated communities, which were left isolated. Up to 1,810 people have been left homeless, according to the São Paulo state government.
Key roads and highways have been blocked and remain that way until state-run water is restored to supply the region. The Brazilian government has struggled to equip survivors with necessities because road blockage of roads have made it difficult to reach affected towns.
About 7.5 tonnes of aid such as food, water and hygiene kits have been distributed to people who lost their homes in the landslides, many of whom have been sheltering in schools and churches.
But not all aid has reached the intended destinations as criminals have taken advantage of the destruction and looted the trucks carrying donations.
Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, visited the badly affected coastal city of São Paulo on Monday and said the disaster emphasised the need to stop building homes in areas of the country which are at risk of dangerous landslides and floods.
São Paulo state has long been known as a popular carnival destination. Surrounding cities have cancelled carnival festivities as rescue workers continue to search for victims and clear the roads.
The government expected 46 million people to join the festivals as the pandemic had delayed last year’s carnival by two months.