Historic Flood Forces 3,000 Families Away from Homes in the North Region

Marabá (PA), a city located between the Tocantins and Itacaiúnas rivers, registered 13 meter-high floods

The municipality of Marabá, in the southeast of Pará, is facing the biggest floods of the last 20 years in the region. There are 2,975 homeless or displaced families, in addition to 435 families stranded in riverside regions. The city of 233 thousand inhabitants is located at the confluence of the Itacaiúnas and Tocantins rivers.

BELÉM-PA (PA), 18.01.2022 - Marabá Alagada / Marabá - (Foto: Raimundo Paccó / FramePhoto / Agência O Globo ) Brasil - RAIMUNDO PACCÓ / FramePhoto / A

The rains that hit the region made the level of the Tocantins River rise from 6 to 12.7 meters in just seven days, according to city hall. On Monday night (17), the river level reached 13 meters, three more than the established alert quota.

The Civil Defense takes turns in three shifts to transport the affected families to shelters in the city, with support from the Army and Navy.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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