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A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 21 February 2023
Brazil deluge kills 36; search continues for dozens missing

By TATIANA POLLASTRI and defy nature,” Lula said in
ELÉONORE HUGHES remarks to reporters in Sao
Associated Press Sebastiao.
SAO SEBASTIAO, Brazil De Freitas declared a state
(AP) — Hundreds of rescu- of emergency for the hard-
ers searched Monday for est-hit cities, including Sao
survivors of landslides and Sebastiao, Ubatuba, Ilha-
flooding that killed at least bela and Bertioga, which
36 people along the coast enables expedited alloca-
of Brazil’s southern state of tion of funds for relief. He
Sao Paulo following a huge said 7 million reais ($1.35
weekend downpour. million) already had been
Worst hit was the city of Sao released. On Monday, the
Sebastiao, where at least governor also declared
35 were dead. In neighbor- three days of official mourn-
ing Ubatuba a 7-year-old ing throughout the state of
girl was killed. The disas- Sao Paulo.
ter, in an area famous for The heavy rain affected wa-
beaches flanked by moun- ter, electricity and phone
tains, prompted cancella- services, according to a
tions in many cities of the statement from the state
Carnival festivities now in government, which posted
full swing elsewhere in the on Twitter a video showing
country. Rescue workers search for survivors after flooding triggered deadly landslides near Juquehy 30,000 liters of water being
Gov. Tarcisio de Freitas told beach in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Associated Press transported to Sao Sebas-
television network Globo tiao. Hygiene kits, blankets,
that another 40 people away and the rest was left al locations. It is a chaotic in Sao Sebastiao had sur- sleeping bags, mattresses
were missing. Nearly 800 precariously perched on situation,” Sao Sebastiao passed 600 millimeters (23.6 and medical supplies have
people were homeless and the edge of a hill. Mayor Felipe Augusto said inches) during a 24-hour also been sent.
1,730 people have been “It was very quick. Either on social media late Sun- period over the weekend, The Minister of Integration
displaced, his state govern- you run or you die,” she day night. among the largest such and Regional Develop-
ment said in a statement. said. “It’s not possible to Augusto said about 50 downpours ever in such a ment Waldez Góes said
Television footage showed take anything, only your houses collapsed in the city short period in Brazil. Brazil’s on Twitter that experts al-
flooded homes with only life, which is the most im- due to the landslides, and President Luiz Inácio Lula ready were looking into re-
their roofs visible. Residents portant thing.” he posted several videos da Silva visited the region construction plans. “In the
used small boats to carry Members of the armed of destruction and search on Monday. He observed coming days, we will work
items and people to ele- forces joined the search efforts, including one of a the damage in Sao Sebas- on the reconstruction of
vated positions. and rescue efforts, aggra- baby being rescued by lo- tiao from a helicopter and bridges, public buildings,
A woman who gave only vated by poor access to cals lined up on a flooded met with Gov. de Freitas at housing units and all the
her first name, Mailsa, said many areas after landslides street. The highway con- Sao Sebastiao’s theatre, public infrastructure affect-
she and her husband, blocked the snaking roads necting Rio de Janeiro where search operations ed,” Góes said.
daughter and grandson in the region’s highlands state with Sao Paulo’s port were being coordinated. The affected area, on the
only barely escaped when and floods washed away city of Santos was blocked Lula called for people liv- northern coast of Sao Pau-
a landslide destroyed her chunks of pavement in by landslides and floodwa- ing in the hillside areas to lo state, is a frequent Carni-
house in the Juquehy mu- low-lying and oceanfront ters. Gov. de Freitas said be relocated to safer re- val destination for wealthy
nicipality of Sao Sebastiao. areas. the damage was so exten- gions. “Every now and then tourists who prefer to stay
The house was partially “Our rescue teams are not sive, the highway may no nature plays a surprise on away from massive street
submerged, parts of it fell managing to get to sever- longer exist. Precipitation us, but also many times we parties in big cities.q

Israel promises not to approve

additional West Bank outposts

settlement outposts, the however, made no men- to forestall the vote by
prime minister’s office said tion of the thousands of ad- convincing both Israel and
Monday, a day after a po- ditional settlement homes the Palestinians to agree
tential diplomatic crisis was in existing settlements offi- in principle to a six-month
averted at the United Na- cials say are to be soon ap- freeze in any unilateral ac-
tions over Israeli-Palestinian proved. tion they might take.
tensions. A contentious U.N. Security “Israel notified the U.S. that
The office of Israeli Prime Council resolution pushed in the coming months it will
Minister Benjamin Netan- by the Palestinians and not authorize new settle-
yahu said Israel would their supporters slated for ments beyond the nine
not greenlight any new Monday would have con- that have already been
wildcat settlements in the demned Israel for settle- approved,” Netanyahu’s
A view of the West Bank Jewish settlement of Eli, Tuesday, Feb.
14, 2023. West Bank beyond nine ment expansion and de- office said.
Associated Press such outposts built without manded a halt to future The Security Council unani-
authorization that it ap- activity. According to mul- mously approved the
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel tration it will rein in the ap- proved retroactively earlier tiple diplomats, the Biden watered-down statement
has told the Biden adminis- proval of new West Bank this month. The statement, administration managed Monday.q