Floods in Ribeira Valley isolate families and increase risk

Heavy rainfall recorded between Thursday (10) and Sunday (13) swelled the Ribeira de Iguape and Turvo rivers, causing overflows that left families isolated and forced preventive evacuations in cities such as Eldorado, Ribeira, and Barra do Turvo.

River overflow and residents isolated

By Sunday night, 110 families had been taken to 19 shelters in the municipalities of Eldorado (60 families), Ribeira (36), Iporanga (3), Registro (8), and Apiaí (3). In Eldorado, 54 families – 173 people – were removed from their homes when the Ribeira de Iguape river reached about nine meters.

Impact of the Capivari dam

Copel, responsible for the Capivari dam in Paraná, began opening the floodgates in a staggered manner to prevent a larger flood. The volume of water released increased the flow of the rivers running through the Ribeira Valley, contributing to rising levels at critical points.

Humanitarian aid and support measures

Civil Defense sent over 2,000 support items, including basic food baskets, mattresses, blankets, hygiene and cleaning kits, as well as an inflatable raft. Also dispatched were 100 basic food baskets, 50 mattresses, 50 blankets, 50 dorm kits, 100 hygiene kits, 100 cleaning kits, a pallet of drinking water, three rolls of plastic sheeting, and five rolls of isolation tape.

Rain forecast and landslide risk

Cemaden considers the possibility of worsening floods to be high and warns of landslides across the São Paulo coast, as the soil is waterlogged. The forecast indicates continued rain until Monday (14) and the possibility of a new rise in river levels.

Situation in the main affected cities

In Barra do Turvo, the Turvo river is level with the bridges, hindering access for rescue teams. In Ribeira, about 60 people sought shelters and another 60 families were stranded after highways were closed. In Sete Barras, the overflow flooded roads and rural properties, affecting 50 homes.

With information from Folha de S.Paulo, G1, R7.