A Brazilian navy ship arrived in the coastal city of Sao Sebastiao on Thursday to help rescue victims of heavy rains lashing southeastern Brazil that have left at least 50 dead and displaced thousands.
The Navy’s multipurpose aircraft carrier, its largest vessel, will serve as an emergency field hospital and is equipped with helicopters and landing vehicles as well as hospital beds.
Last weekend’s rainfall was Brazil’s heaviest in 24 hours and left a trail of destruction on the coast of the northern state of Sao Paulo, according to government figures.
At least 38 people are still missing, while more than 3,000 have been forced to flee their homes, the Sao Paulo state government said in a statement.
Sao Sebastiao, located about 124 miles (200 km) from the capital Sao Paulo, bore the brunt of the storm, including nearly all the reported deaths, as massive downpours triggered landslides and dangerous flooding.
More rainfall is expected in the coming days as moisture from the Atlantic Ocean and Amazon rainforest creates conditions for “moderate to heavy showers”, according to the state government.
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