Heavy rains have been causing major problems for residents and travellers in Brazil. Among the hardest hit areas are the cities of Niteroi, where 67 deaths were recorded until 7 April, and Rio de Janeiro where lost their lives.
Resultant floods led to the obstruction of traffic through some tunnels in the hills surrounding Rio, whilst scheduled maintenance work was suspended in others so that drivers could be released from cut-off areas to go to their destinations.
On 6 April access to the Noel Rosa Avenida Marechal Rondon tunnel in the Sampaio neighbourhood was banned after a hillside fell as slime, closing the route to Vila Isabel. Access to the Cosme Tunnel Rebouças and was also banned A landslide near Joah Tunnel on the Lagoa-Barra highway towards Barr de Tijuca caused flooding allowing only the middle lane to be used.
Earlier, works on the Tunnel Zuzu Angel, as part of the PAC (neighbourhood Growth Acceleration Programme) in Rocinha, were cancelled by CET-Rio, the municipal transport company, so that stranded motorists could use it in both directions. PAC is responsible for slope retention and infrastructure works, including sewerage, in designated areas.
Emergency redirection work was carried out by CET-Rio with 750 personnel of CET-Rio and the Municipal Guard on site
At the time of writing more heavy rain was forecast and more landslides expected.
