Mega Drought Plagues Brazil’s Most Populous Region

DISASTERS CAUSED BY RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE
EXTREME WEATHER
MEGA DROUGHT
CROP DISASTERS
WATER FAMINE
SCENARIOS 900, [500,] 444, 219, 117, 111, 100, 090, 067, 03, 02
.

Rio de Janeiro state experiencing “the worst water crisis in its history” —Environment Minister

The states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais facing “worrying” water crisis and must save water, according to Brazil’s Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira speaking in an emergency meeting in the capital, Brasilia.

“Since records for Brazil’s south-eastern region began 84 years ago we have never seen such a delicate and worrying situation,” she said.

In Rio de Janeiro state, the main water reservoir is empty for the first time since it was built, said the country’s Environment Secretary, acknowledging that the state faces “the worst water crisis in its history,” said a report.

Rising temperatures and diminishing rainfall have forced authorities to impose rationing in the worst affected areas, amid rolling power cuts, which are affecting up to five million people.

Minas Gerais saw a total of just 900mm of rain in 2014, less half the yearly average, severely affecting coffee beans production.

Rainfall Totals & Anomaly Patterns:Last 30 Days

During the last 30 days, below-average precipitation was observed over most of the Amazon Basin, and all of central and southeastern Brazil. Above-average precipitation was observed over southern Colombia, northern Peru, northeastern Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. Source: cpc/ncep/noaa

About 100 cities have imposed rationing, as water levels in 17 of the country’s 18 largest reservoirs fall below levels experienced during the last water crisis in 2001, said reports.

Water levels at the Cantareira system, a huge reservoir that provides water to about 22 million people in Sao Paulo and surrounding areas, have fallen to about 5 percent of the capacity, severely affecting hydroelectric generation, which provides up to 72 percent of the county’s electricity.

Rolling blackouts are hitting about a dozen cities amid high demand for refrigeration and air conditioning, as the daily temperatures soar above 35°C.

The national grid operator ONS cut power to Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and several other major Brazilian cities last week, paralyzing the subway systems, said a report.

“Scientists have linked the shortage in rainfall to deforestation in the Amazon, which has led to higher temperatures and lower precipitation across much of Brazil. Ironically, much of the deforestation is driven by the agricultural sector, which is now also suffering under the extensive drought.”

Related Links

• Drought Decimates Water Reserve in Sao Paulo, Brazil: Posted on October 11, 2014
• Brazil Drought Continues Intensifying February 23, 2014
• Major Blackout in Brazil amid Record Heat, Low Rainfall February 5, 2014
• Worst drought in half a century destroying dozens of communities in NE Brazil  January 6, 2013

Drought Decimates Water Reserve in Sao Paulo, Brazil

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATE OF EMERGENCY
EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT
WATER FAMINE
CROP DISASTERS
SCENARIOS  444, 219, 111, 100, 090, 03, 02
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Brazil’s biggest city running out of water after 9 months of exceptional drought

The governor of Sao Paulo has asked the federal government for permission to siphon the remaining water out of the main reservoir that supplies water to millions of residents in Sao Paulo city, AP reported.

More than 95% of the water in Sao Paulo’s main reservoir, the Cantareira system, has already gone.  The reservoir provides water to about 6.7 million residents.

The drought, said to be Brazil’s worst ever, has also affected at least 30 other  cities in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.

The affected regions  received  less than 30 percent of the normal rain during Brazil’s wet season that runs from December to February.

States of Emergency Declared for 80 Cities in Brazil

Extreme Weather Events

Death Toll Rises to 50 in Brazil Floods; 60,000 Displaced

Dozens of people are confirmed dead, and more than 60,000 others displaced due to severe flooding and landslides in Brazil’s southeast states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo,  authorities said.

At least 54 of the 79 municipalities in Espirito Santo (population: 4 million), have declared states of emergency. In Minas Gerais (population: 20 million), the authorities have declared states of emergency in at least 26 municipalities.

Extreme Rain Events in Espirito Santo have inundated roads, bridges and homes. The floods were the “worst ever” since record-taking began 90 years ago, said the Espirito Santo governor Renato Casagrande.

He called the week-long rainstorm “the worst natural disaster in the history of Espirito Santo.”

Most of the victims were buried in deadly torrents of mud and authorities say the death toll may rise. Landslides have also destroyed a large number of homes, roads and bridges, burying everything in their paths and  leaving dozens  of cities (Municipalities) are without electricity and drinking water.

Minas Gerais

In January 2012, Brazil’s southeastern state of Minas Gerais (pop: 20 million) declared a States of Emergency in 46 cities following sever flooding.

Flooding and mudslides triggered by extreme rain events in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais left at least 50 people dead, missing or injured and forced more than 10,000 people to flee their homes.

• About 3,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged.
• The disasters have affected at least 2 million people.

Rio de Janeiro

The state Civil defense authorities placed several municipalities in Rio de Janeiro under a state of maximum alert following widespread flooding.

• The worst-hit area is the municipality of Nova Friburgo, located about 135 km from the state capital Rio de Janeiro [city.]

Related Links

• “Worst Ever” Floods Kill Dozens in Brazil, Force 50,000 to Flee Their Homes December 25, 2013

Additional Links

Search blog content for a comprehensive list of major flood and landslides in Brazil since 2010.

“Worst Ever” Floods Kill Dozens in Brazil, Force 50,000 to Flee Their Homes

EXTREME RAIN EVENTS

Flash floods wreak havoc in 45 Brazil municipalities, killing at least 30 people, and forcing 50,000 to flee their homes

Flash floods, triggered by Extreme Rain Events that began last week, have caused severe landslides killing at least 30 people and forcing tens of thousands of others to flee their homes. 

Some 130 millimeters of rain fell in Espirito Santo state, swamping roads, bridges and homes. The floods were the “worst ever” since record-taking began 90 years ago, said the Espirito Santo governor.

Most of the victims were buried in deadly torrents of mud and authorities say the death toll may rise.

Landslides have also destroyed a large number of homes, roads and bridges, burying everything in their paths and  leaving dozens  of cities without electricity and drinking water.

Minas Gerais

In January 2012, Brazil’s southeastern state of Minas Gerais (pop: 20 million) declared a States of Emergency in 46 cities following sever flooding.

Flooding and mudslides triggered by extreme rain events in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais left at least 50 people dead, missing or injured and forced more than 10,000 people to flee their homes.

• About 3,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged.
• The disasters have affected at least 2 million people.

Rio de Janeiro

The state Civil defense authorities placed several municipalities in Rio de Janeiro under a state of maximum alert following widespread flooding.

• The worst-hit area is the municipality of Nova Friburgo, located about 135 km from the state capital Rio de Janeiro [city.]

Related Links

Search blog content for a comprehensive list of major flood and landslides in Brazil since 2010.

“FIFA, F*** OFF!”

“We don’t need the World Cup!” “We need money for hospitals and education.”

Dozens of demonstrators have been injured and dozens more arrested in clashes with riot police as thousands of Brazilians demonstrated outside the national stadium in the capital, Brasilia.

Protesters took to streets across Brazil, with thousands demonstrating near Maracana Stadium,  in Rio de Janeiro.

Crowds held signs reading: “We need money for hospitals and education” and “We don’t need the World Cup!”

Protesters expressed their anger at the Federation of International Football Associations, which awarded Brazil the World Cup hosting rights, chanting: “FIFA, F*** OFF!”

Brazil has been plagued with protest rallies recently, with thousands expressing their anger at mounting crime rates, rising inflation and 10 percent hike in bus fares.

The Rio Treat: Brazilian riot police sprays a pedestrian with a noxious chemical. Credit: AP. Image may be subject to copyright.

In Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, riot police clashed and protesters as tens of thousands of people rallied in the streets.

The protests, which began earlier this month over the transport fare increase, have since evolved into a nationwide movement calling for better hospitals, schools and transport.

Anthrax Outbreak Kills Dozens of Animals

At least 165 animals killed in Zimbabwe anthrax outbreak

Dozens of elephants, hippos, buffaloes and kudus have been killed in an anthrax outbreak in Mana Pools National Park, lower Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 11

[January 11, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,526 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. Anthrax outbreak has killed more than 165 animals including elephants, hippos, buffaloes and kudus, in Mana Pools National Park, lower Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe, said a report.
  • The outbreak has been confirmed by a veterinary officer, who said samples had tested positive for the deadly disease.

Other Global Disasters

• Brazil. Death toll in Brazil floods has climbed to at least 28, with dozens reported as missing and many injured.
  • See also Drought and Deluge Severely Affect Brazil Provinces
• Japan. According to recently released police figures, a total of 19,294 people were killed in last year’s March 11 triple disasters, which was triggered by a Mega quake [2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake was a 9.0Mw megathrust ] off the coast of Fukushima Pref.  The authorities have recovered 15,844 bodies.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• WARNING: JPTRMT1
• Weather Disaster Declared in 11 Thai Provinces
• Death Toll Rises as Cold Wave Intensifies in N India

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Extreme Rain Events, Floods, Mudslides 2010

Images of the Day: Brazil Mudslides, Australia Flooding, Florida Drowning …

Death toll from Brazil mudslides rises to 76: Reuters

Massive landslide in Morro da Carioca, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Photo: AP. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice. More images…

Coonamble, central-western New South Wales, Australia:

• 1,200 people flee their homes as major flood warning issued
• The area has now been declared a natural disaster zone.

Hundreds of Coonamble residents are evacuating. (AAP: Brian Harvey). Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice.

Flooding in Escambia County, Fl. Credit: NorthEscambiadotcom. Image may be subject to copyright.

Related Links:

• 2010: Year One of Human-Enhanced Disasters
• What Florida Might Look Like in 2014

30 hurt as airliner hits turbulence

Severe turbulence shakes Continental airliner near Dominican Republic

A Continental airliner flying from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Houston, Texas,  Monday experienced severe turbulence at 36,000 feet, injuring more than 30 passengers—at least 4 of them seriously—and forcing the plane to divert to Miami International Airport.

“There were 168 passengers on Flight 128, which was originally headed from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Houston, Texas, according to Lt. Elkin Sierra of the Miami-Dade Fire Department.” CNN reported.

Some of the injured were taken to hospitals in Miami, while others  with less serious injuries were treated on the spot after the plane landed at Miami International Airport at about 6 am ET.

“The Boeing 767 hit turbulence about 50 miles north of the Dominican Republic at about 38,000 feet, according to an official with the Federal Aviation Administration.”

“The airline will decide whether or not to leave the uninjured passengers on the aircraft and continue the flight or disembark the entire aircraft,” Sierra said.

A Report Video

Related Links:

• Links index: Airlines & Aviation Industry, Airline Safety, Air Travel …

Airbus Catastrophic Failure a Fatal Design Flaw

Breaking News: Cockpit Fire Forces Airbus A330 to Land

Airbus EFIS fails catastrophically when facing unforeseen circumstances

Airbus electronic flight instrument system and onboard computers fail catastrophically in rough conditions

FEWW Moderators believe that Air France flight AF 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris most likely crashed as a result of catastrophic flight system failure caused by  a fatal design flaw in the Airbus 3xx series electronic flight instrument system, EFIS, and its onboard computers.

While the system seems to function in normal conditions, the computers seem unable to deal with ‘extreme’ situations that are caused by either the pilot error, as in the case of Air New Zealand Airbus 320 that plunged into the Mediterranean sea, or in above normal weather conditions, similar to the turbulence that Air France plane  most likely experienced en route from Brazil to France.

EFIS manages pilot’s selections and repeats the input to all necessary control units within the flight control system. When the difference between the data obtained from the air data computer and the input selected by the pilot exceeds the “permitted” range, the range within which the system can successfully function, a catastrophic failure caused by a fatal design flaw seems to occur which disables the system and prevents it from generating the appropriate warnings, which would enable the pilot to respond accordingly. The aircraft goes out of control and crashes.

Related Links:

• Airbus Must Come Clean

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