Rio Disaster Update

Serial No  1,554. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by the authorities/Google in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

Rescue teams use heavy machinery to dig for bodies and survivors

The worst rains in Rio’s history have triggered about 200 mudslides since Monday destroying homes in hillside community slums, killing as many as 200 people, injuring hundreds more, and leaving thousands without shelter.

The latest significant mudslide swept away at least 50 houses in the Bumba Hill slum,  in the city of Niteroi, across a bay from Rio de Janeiro, a report said.

A aerial view of Morro do Bumba area after a landslide at Vicoso Jardim neighborhood in Niteroi, 15 miles (24 km) away from downtown Rio de Janeiro, April 8, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Sergio Moraes. Image may be subject to copyright.  For more images see links below.

Disaster Summary:

• Historic torrential rains began on Monday, flooding many areas of Rio and throughout the Rio de Janeiro state, triggering deadly mudslides.
• Up to 200 mudslides have wreaked devastation throughout the state.
  
• As many as 5,000 homes/shacks mostly in Rio’s slum areas may have been destroyed.
• About 200 people are reported dead.
• Hundreds more are injured.
• As many as 200 are believed to be buried under mountains of mud.
• About 25,000 people are left without shelter.
  
• More than 10,000 structures are at risk of collapse.
• Niteroi is believed to be the worst affected area with up to 120 people killed by the mud avalanches.
• At least 60 have been killed in Rio.

Related Links:

• Death Toll in Rio Landslides Rises
• Deadly Flooding in Rio de Janeiro State, 100 killed
• 2010 Likely the Most Disastrous Year on Record: FEWW
• 2010: Year One of Human-Enhanced Disasters
• Storms, Extreme Rain Events, Floods, Landslides
• Drought and Deluge
• Reuters Photo Gallery

Death Toll in Rio Landslides Rises

Serial No  1,551. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by the authorities/Google in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

More than 180 mudslides kill at least 154 people, injure hundreds more and leave 260 missing

Days of relentless torrential rain, the worst in Rio de Janeiro’s history, continue to wreak havoc across the Brazilian state.

Cars are floating on a flooded street in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Reuters. Image may be subject to copyright.

Many of  residents and rescuers are frantically looking for victims buried in mud as a large landslide in Niteroi, across a bay from Rio, destroyed dozens of homes.

Flooding had caused transportation chaos across Rio on Tuesday, but the city slowly returned to normal on Wednesday. However, despite the forecast, the rain did not ease and a heavy downpour created more misery for the denizens.  Forecasters have now warned the torrential rain will continue.

As of posting, at least 4,000 families have lost their homes, more than 10,000 structure are at risk of collapse.

FEWW Moderators expect this pattern to reoccur throughout South and North America, as well as in Europe and SE Asia this summer.

Related Links:

• Deadly Flooding in Rio de Janeiro State, 100 killed
• 2010 Likely the Most Disastrous Year on Record: FEWW
• 2010: Year One of Human-Enhanced Disasters
• Storms, Extreme Rain Events, Floods, Landslides
• Drought and Deluge

Air France Airbus Vanishes Over the Atlantic

Air France plane with 228 people aboard goes missing

An Air France Airbus carrying 228 people from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Paris, France, has disappeared over the Atlantic.

An Air France Airbus 330-200 carrying 228 people on which was flying on the Rio de Janeiro – Paris Charles de Gaulle route has vanished over the Atlantic, the airline said.

Distraught relatives and friends of passengers of Air France flight AF447 arrive at the crisis centre at Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris, June 1, 2009. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes. Image may be subject to copyright.

The Brazilian air force conducted a search mission over the Atlantic Ocean looking for the missing plane, Brazilian television said.

Flight AF 447 with 216 passengers and 12 crew reportedly left Rio de Janeiro on Sunday at 19:00 local time and was scheduled to land in Paris on Monday at 11:15 (05:15 EDT).

Air France announced on Monday that it had no “news from flight AF 447, which was flying on the Rio de Janeiro – Paris Charles de Gaulle route and was scheduled to arrive at 11.15 a.m. today [05:15 EDT).”

Air France Airbus 330-200. Airbus seems to be a plane with an identity crisis: Submarine envy. Air France Airbus A330-200 F-GZCG- Paris CDG, France.  Copyright (c) Filimages – Philippe Jeandy (dated 14-JAN-2007 ).

It’s not yet known when or where the plane vanished, but it seems the Gremlins were pulling one of their usual stunts on Air France because, regardless of the timeline, both Sunday  (May 31) and Monday (June 1) were odd days the month. See Second Airbus Plunges into Water.

Despite this oddity, flying airbus is still twice safer statistically on odd days of the month than even.

Related Link:

• Second Airbus Plunges into Water
• Air New Zealand Flying Coffin Crashes in the Mediterranean
• US Airways Plane Goes Down in Hudson River