Brazilian government pledges $100 million to aid flood victims

Reporting from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Bogota, —  The Brazilian government pledged $100 million in food, water and reconstruction aid for northeastern Brazil, where devastating floods have killed at least 41 people and left an estimated 115,000 others homeless.

The Brazilian government on Tuesday pledged $100 million in food, water and reconstruction aid for northeastern Brazil, where devastating floods have killed at least 41 people and left an estimated 115,000 others homeless. Hundreds of people were still missing Tuesday.

Heavy rains caused rivers in the Alagoas and Pernambuco states to rise by as much as 15 feet. Floodwaters from the Una River knocked out two main bridges and washed out parts of the Atlantic coastal highway connecting Pernambuco with the rest of the country.

Worst hit was the Alagoas town of Uniao de Palmares, where 500 people were reported missing. Drinking water there and in several other cities was compromised. Television images showed much of the town, located about 1,500 miles northeast of Sao Paulo, sunk in mud. The only hospital in the town of 62,000 was totally destroyed

“The hospital workers are in tears. All the equipment is broken, and the chairs from the reception area are up in the trees,” said local journalist Joao Valadares in a telephone interview. “It looks like a hurricane passed by.”

Said resident Adriano Alves: “People here will have to start over from zero.”

In Pernambuco, about 1,300 miles northeast of Sao Paulo, authorities reported 30 cities facing emergency conditions, with 17,800 people living in shelters and another 25,000 with relatives. Gov. Eduardo Campos issued an appeal for water and food.

The relief aid will come from a $700-million emergency fund that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva set aside just last week. The president, whose native city of Garanhuns in Pernambuco was among those affected, was expected to visit the area. The government also announced that monthly welfare payments to poor families in the flood zone would be advanced.

The government said Tuesday it was sending soldiers to the affected states to assist with recovery efforts.

This is the second straight year that Brazil has suffered catastrophic flood damage in the northeast. About 800,000 people were left homeless in May and June of last year.

Special correspondents Soares reported from Sao Paulo and Kraul from Bogota.