via Toronto Sun, Brazil rescuers battle floods
A good photo gallery at the link above to give an idea of the magnitude of the disaster currently afflicting Brazil. The local press is referring to it as the worst flood in the country’s history. By yesterday’s count, the mudslide had caused above 500 victims. From the article:
Rescue workers in Brazil braced for more rain Friday as they struggled to reach areas cut off by massive floods and landslides that look certain to have killed more than 500 people.
In one of the country’s worst natural disasters, rivers of mud tore through towns in the mountainous Serrana region outside Rio de Janeiro, leveling houses, throwing cars atop buildings and stranding thousands of residents.
I know I am reblogging myself here (I posted this earlier today, in my AM), but I have a good reason to do so. I see several people asking how they can donate to the Brazilian relief efforts. I have done some research both in Spanish and Portuguese speaking press. The truth is, there is no official fund set up. There is some relief effort organized by the local Catholic Church that is coordinating help within the organization all over Latin America (there is a sense of solidarity that runs quite high in Latin American countries so they do coordinate help for each other). Other than that, some press is advising people to contact The Red Cross and channel the donations through them.
Independently of that, if someone wants to donate or help, in some Latin American countries (like Uruguay), this is being organized through the Brazilian embassy. It is worth calling your local embassy or consulate and ask if they have set up a similar effort for your area. For a list of all Brazilian consulates and embassies worldwide, click here. It is a comprehensive list that includes all details.
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