Authorities reported the collapse of a dam near the city of Vitoria da Conquista, southern Bahia, in northeastern Brazil after weeks of rains and flooding. | Photo: Twitter @RobertGayol

Brasilia, December 28 (RHC)-- The heavy rains that since the end of November have hit the northeast of Brazil have left at least 20 dead, 286 injured and two missing, in addition to some 16 thousand victims, only in the state of Bahia, according to Monday's report from regional authorities.

The Government of Bahia included this Sunday 47 municipalities in emergency situation due to the recent heavy rains, so the state now has 72 cities in this condition.  The measure, announced by Governor Rui Costa during a visit to Ilhéus, authorized the mobilization of all state agencies to support disaster response actions and recovery of the cities. 

Governor Costa flew over and visited this Sunday the municipalities of southern Bahia where the rains had intensified since last Thursday, as well as Itabuna and Itajuípe.  As of Sunday, there were 19,580 people considered homeless - who had to leave their homes and who do not necessarily need shelter - and 16,001 affected by the total loss of their homes. 

The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) and the National Center for Monitoring and Alert of Natural Disasters (Cemaden) maintain the alert for the risk of new floods and landslides in Bahia, due to the rains accumulated in the last days and the forecast of new precipitations.

"It is a gigantic tragedy.  I don't remember in the recent history of Bahia that something of these proportions has happened.  It is really frightening the number of houses, streets and localities that are under water," said Governor Costa.