Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The US vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, arguing it does not condemn Hamas nor grant "Israel" the right to “self-defense.”
Israeli occupation forces issue a new bombing threat against civilian buildings in the Southern Lebanese towns of Borj Qalaouiye and Chehabiyeh.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Extending the snapback mechanism deadline will test how independent Europeans truly are from the US.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Activating the snapback mechanism will nullify the Cairo Agreement, shut the door on cooperation between the IAEA and Tehran, and bar inspections.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The diplomatic window remains open, but signs of activating the snapback sanctions mechanism on Iran are increasing.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Although the Cairo Agreement meets an important part of European demands, they have begun speaking of new conditions in recent communications.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: European countries show no independence in their stance toward Iran during the talks.
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.

Brazil storm disasters caused by climate change, rampant urbanization

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Feb 2023 13:36
3 Min Read

At least 50 people were killed in southeastern Brazil by storm disasters.

  • x
  • Aerial view showing rescuers in the destruction path left by a landslide after torrential rain in the Barra do Sahy district in Sao Sebastiao, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, on February 21, 2023 (AFP)
    Aerial view showing rescuers in the destruction path left by a landslide after torrential rain in the Barra do Sahy district in Sao Sebastiao, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, on February 21, 2023 (AFP)

Disasters like the violent storm that killed at least 50 people in southeastern Brazil are becoming more frequent due to climate change and unchecked construction in flood and landslide-prone areas, according to a renowned expert.

"The more time passes, the less likely it is to find survivors. But we always work with that in mind. There can always be air pockets under the rubble," emergency official Villas-Boas told news site G1. According to the Sao Paulo state government, dozens of people are still missing after the disaster.

In an interview for AFP, Francis Lacerda, a researcher at Brazil's IPA Climate Change Laboratory, discussed the causes of disasters like the one that struck the Sao Paulo state coast last weekend as well as what can be done to stop them.

Disasters, according to him, are a result of global warming, which has led to more extreme weather events across South America and the entire planet, not just in Brazil.

"There has actually been a decrease in the total amount of rain in Brazil in the southeast, central-west, north, and northeast in the past 30 or 40 years, even as these extreme episodes have increased," he said.

He explained that oceans are absorbing a significant portion of the heat contained in greenhouse gases, which is altering ocean currents. As a result, the atmosphere reacts to these extreme weather events and changes in how heat is distributed at Earth's poles and equator.

"So total precipitation has decreased, but the distribution has become more intense, with an entire year's worth of rain falling in a few hours in some cases. Yes, although mountainous areas are at higher risk."

Read next: 36 dead in Brazil's deadly Sao Paolo floods, landslides

He illustrates how the mountain range and the arrival of a cold front with strong coastal winds intensified the phenomenon. However, coastal regions without mountains can also experience that kind of rain.

Lacerda added that "it was a tragedy foretold. A day before the storm, meteorological models started indicating a high probability of a phenomenon like this. It would have been possible to get enough information to emergency officials to evacuate these areas and save lives."

The expert explained that real-estate speculation has basically pushed poor people on the urban periphery into these high-risk areas. "It's not enough to just say, 'Get those people out of there.' We need to fundamentally reexamine our cities with a view to reformulating urban public policies."

Read next: Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon falls in Lula's 1st month in office

  • Francis Lacerda
  • Climate change
  • Brazil

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025
UKLFI’s latest faux pas, like "Israel’s" recent failed attempt at regime change in Iran, is unambiguously indicative of a flailing entity on the verge of extinction. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

Zionist lawfare operation facing collapse?

  • Opinion
  • 13 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS