Brazil Floods: Saving Lives is Most Important, President Says
Sao Paulo, Dec 24 (Prensa Latina) After a helicopter tour over areas flooded by rain in the last eight days in the state of Espirito Santo, President Dilma Rousseff said today that the most important thing was to save lives.
"Now the most important factor is human life and the Army has a great capacity for rescue work," Rousseff said.
She said she was impressed by the amount of flooded areas observed during her flyover of several municipalities in this area of the southeast.
She noted that the government sent troops from its land forces and the National Security Force to regions flooded by overflowing rivers where authorities have reported nine deaths, 45 injured and 46,000 people affected.
The president said that the government will also work on recovery efforts in 50 of the 78 municipalities affected in the state, and will take steps to prevent future floods.
Accompanied by Espiritu Santo Governor Renato Casagrande and ministers of Defense, Celso Amorim, Health, Alexandre Padilha, and National Integration, Francisco Teixeira, the president flew over the towns of Serra, Santa Leopoldina, Santa Teresa and Vila Velha.
Back in Vitoria, the state capital, she met with representatives of the Civil Defense, Fire Department, and local authorities to assess the situation and prioritize assistance to thousands of victims.
Heavy rainfall in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais also caused flooding and landslides in 21 municipalities, resulting in 15 deaths.
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