verb [ trans. ]
destroy or ruin (something)
• cause (someone) severe and overwhelming shock or grief
The recent catastrophe that occurred in Terasopolis, Brazil brought devastation upon devastation to the mountain side towns. The natural after effects of rock slides and flooding isn't the only thing bringing devastation to these people. Lack of Government help, lack of housing, and incorrect media coverage also has brought devastation and robbed these wonderful individuals of their voice. I wanted to do a post informing you on the facts of the flood from the view point of those we have met and talked with. The residents who have gone through this and are still working together to bring restoration to their community.
Heavy rains lasting for 10 straight days over-saturated the mountain earth. They say it rained about a months worth in one day. The crumbling mountains and excessive rains caused the massive rushing flood.
Terasopolis and Nova Friburgo (located in the state of Rio De Janiero) were hit the hardest. We were working in Vieira (belongs to Terasopolis) located geographically between these two cities.
In the particular area we were working the flood happened Wednesday January 12th at 2 a.m. It rushed through in the dark of the night at 110km/hour and only lasted 20 minutes
Meteorologists still have trouble explaining what happened in the rural areas. Up to 70 people were killed in Vieira including 9 church members (10%) of the small church we stayed at.
The flood is being called the biggest catastrophe in Brazil and the 4th biggest in the world
One of the most startling facts we kept hearing is how inaccurate death counts are. Local government is corrupt and right now controls distribution of flood relief money. If they report over 1,000 deaths the Federal government will take over. In fear of the happening the corrupt local government DOESN'T report more than 1,000 deaths. In just one of Terasopolis's communities alone, media reported 800 deaths but there were actually well over 6,000. The reason locals know this, is a recent census was taken before the flood and since the flood there are only 300 living survivors. The entire area was flattened. The census records "mysteriously" disappeared not to long after the flood.
There are said to be a total of 14,000 deaths in Brazil.. with many bodies still missing.
One story we heard was of a photographer who was documenting the deaths and bodies that they had lined up after being found and it was obvious how many more there were, his camera cards were taken from him and officials deleted information so that the true death counts wouldn't be reported.
Hearing first hand the accounts of what has happened from the victims affected and having them tell us about the injustice and false government promises broke our hearts. Please join me in praying for justice, restoration, for the media/government to rightly portray things, and for the rebuilding process both physically and emotionally that needs to take place.
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