The official death toll from Brazil’s mudslide disaster has risen to 803. Nova Friburgo, near Rio de Janeiro, is the hardest-hit town, where 389 deaths were recorded. A total of 400 lives were lost in other towns, including Teresopolis, Peropolis and Sumidouro.
According to the LA Times, more than 14,000 people are homeless in one of the worst natural disasters in the country’s history. People were forced to abandon their homes in southeast Brazil, either because the houses were destroyed or deemed unsafe.
The World Bank donated $485 million to rebuild and provide prevention plans. The Brazilian government also plans to revamp its national alert system to warn of future flooding disasters.
More bad weather may be in Brazil’s future. Mudslides are probable as summer rainfall continues.