population in Brazil sweeps
Writing Last Updated: Friday, May 29, 2009 - 9:44 GMT BBC
"It was a real tsunami," said Governor of Piaui, Wellington Dias.
Four people died and at least 11 missing in Brazil, after torrential rains caused the rupture of a dam in the State of Piauí, northeast of the country.
The tragedy occurred when a gap opened waters about 50 meters on the wall of the reservoir Algodões 1, in the city of Cocal da Estacao.
Originally there were more than 100 missing, but authorities reported that most were later found.
At least 2,500 people were evacuated by teams of firemen, Civil Defense and the Ministry of Health, involved in the rescue of victims, with the help of five helicopters.
rupture dam caused the river Canoes go up to 20 meters, flooding an area of \u200b\u200b50 square kilometers.
More than 100 homes have been destroyed.
"It was a real tsunami," said the governor of Piaui, Wellington Dias, after flying over the affected area. Despair
The four dead included two girls aged 10 and 12 years old, a 72 year old man and a woman of 73.
The only video of the break was taken by someone with a cellphone, said BBC correspondent in Sao Paulo Gary Duffy.
fuzzy images show a torrent of water invading everything. Desperate people ran to take refuge on the roofs of houses.
"I heard a tremendous noise and when the dam broke a 50-meter column of water rose into the air, and when he fell destroyed everything in its path," said the farmer Jose Maria Siqueira.
According to another villager, Antonio Antonino, "People were desperate, did not stop mourn. I have 60 years and have never seen anything like it before."
The State of Piauí is one of the poorest in Brazil and has been severely affected by heavy rains that hit the north and northeast.
Some 400,000 people in that region remain outside their homes by flooding.
Rains have led to the evacuation of more than 90,000 of the nearly three million inhabitants of Piauí.
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