Metrics details Urban arboviruses pose a significant global burden particularly in tropical regions like Brazil a lower-middle-class urban area just 26 km from the Brazilian capital asymptomatic cases may obscure the actual extent of the disease and compared these findings with surveillance data A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 1,535 households ELISA serological tests were performed to detect IgM and IgG antibodies against dengue History of previous exposure to arboviruses and education level were collected through a questionnaire Participants who tested positive for IgM and/or IgG were classified as soropositive Statistical analyses included tests for normality Positive serological results were compared with cases captured by local epidemiological surveillance divided into two groups related to pre-pandemic and pandemic COVID-19 phases 0.7% to 28.8% self-reported history of dengue the estimated overall seroprevalence was 64.3% (95% CI: 61.8–66.7) for dengue virus and 5.4% (95% CI: 4.4–6.7) for chikungunya virus Multiple arboviruses were noted at 4.0% (95% CI: 3.1–5.1) Advancing age and lower education were associated with higher exposure to arboviruses (p < 0.05) The estimated number of urban arboviral infections was 84 times higher than reported cases The large gap between seroprevalence estimates and cases captured by epidemiological surveillance suggests a silent circulation of arboviruses highlighting the need for comprehensive serological surveys in endemic regions Addressing these discrepancies is crucial for effective resource allocation and implementation of public health interventions with limited assessments in the Central-West region this situation reveals potential gaps in surveillance and public health responses presenting an opportunity for strategic research on the prevalence of these arboviruses current estimates likely underreport the true incidence of these infections ZIKV and CHIKV in São Sebastião and compared it with surveillance data we highlighted the diagnostic challenges for these arboviruses in endemic areas Location of the São Sebastião Administrative Region Venous blood samples (8 mL) were collected in SST™ BD Vacutainer® tubes with a gel separator and clot activator Samples were refrigerated at 2 to 8ºC during transport to the Center of Tropical Medicine They were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min and stored at − 80 °C for serological testing at the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unexpected suspension of field activities resulting in data collection being split into two phases: February to March 2020 (phase 1) and October 2020 to January 2021 (phase 2) and CHIKV infections were identified through the detection of IgM and IgG antibodies using commercial ELISA kits validated by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária Germany) were used for anti-dengue IgM and IgG detection Interpretation followed the manufacturer's instructions with absorbance ratios at 450 nm/calibrator indicating negative (< 0.8) anti-Zika IgM and IgG tests were performed using kits from Vircell Microbiologists® (Granada Vircell Microbiologists test results were interpreted according to the manufacturer's instructions with ZIKV IgM or IgG absorbance ratios at 450 nm/calibrator indicating negative (< 9) Euroimmun ZIKV IgG results were interpreted similarly with absorbance ratios indicating negative (< 0.8) CHIKV detection involved anti-chikungunya IgM kits from Vircell Microbiologists and Dia.Pro® (Milan as well as anti-chikungunya IgG kits from Euroimmun and Mobius Life Science® (Pinhais absorbance ratios at 450 nm/calibrator were interpreted as negative (< 9) interpretation was based on absorbance ratios: negative (< 0.9) absorbance ratios were utilized to calculate the antibody index as a continuous variable Individuals were considered seropositive for arboviruses if one or more classes of immunoglobulins (IgM and/or IgG) were detected positivity for DENV and ZIKV was categorized as flavivirus (FLAV) infection while positivity for antibodies against flaviviruses and chikungunya was designated as FLAV + CHIKV Participants who tested negative or borderline for all classes of antibodies to the three arboviruses were classified as 'No Arbovirus' All statistical analyses were performed using R software The period considered for the estimates was from 2006 to 2021 for dengue Data prior to 2006 for dengue were not available The study included 1,405 individuals who provided their consent, which accounts for 91.5% of the originally calculated sample size. Figure 2 illustrates the data collection process. We analyzed antibody profiles to determine the infection stages among seropositive individuals and estimate the proportion of DENV infections that were non-primary. As shown in Fig. 3A, the most common profile observed was (IgM-IgG +), representing 51.2% (95% CI: 48.6–53.8) for DENV, 33.0% (95% CI: 30.7–35.5) for ZIKV, and 3.6% (95% CI: 1.9–3.6) for CHIKV. Profile analysis and classification of antibody classes FLAV was detected in 645 out of 1,405 cases 71.5% (763/903) also tested positive for ZIKV while 89.3% (645/722) of ZIKV seropositive individuals were also positive for DENV 4.0% (95% CI: 3.1–5.1) of individuals tested positive for all evaluated urban arboviruses while only 29.8% (95% CI: 27.4–32.3) did not test positive for any of them we used the mean antibody index to compare the descriptive groups of participants Significant differences were observed between genders for ZIKV and CHIKV (p < 0.05) and No Arbovirus (p < 0.01) differences were noted between the age groups of 41 to 60 and 61 to 87 years (p = 0.01) and 18 to 40 and 61 to 87 years (p < 0.05) as well as between the educational level of elementary school and university (p = 0.01) and high school and university (p = 0.01) for DENV Correlation matrix between age and antibody index according to immunoglobulin classes Significant and strong association (p < 0.001) between ZIKV and CHIKV IgM antibodies was observed exclusively in phase 2 with 94.3% (33/1,405) of the 35 doubly positive samples occurring in this phase significant correlations emerged from overlapping negative results 22.9% (322/1,405) of CHIKV IgG and ZIKV IgG Euroimmun samples were doubly negative Categorical analysis indicated a potential association between CHIKV IgG and ZIKV IgG Euroimmun (χ2 suggesting a trend towards statistical significance In summary, Fig. 5 illustrates that despite observed cross-reactivity, at least one flavivirus and CHIKV co-circulate in the São Sebastião region. Seroprevalence of total IgM and/or IgG antibodies to each of the arboviruses and co-infection rates Our study highlights that arboviral diseases are likely underestimated in endemic regions emphasizing the need for comprehensive serological surveys to determine their actual prevalence we elucidate the complexities involved in serological assessments in areas where multiple arboviruses co-circulate underscoring the urgency for developing more refined and accurate methodologies in such contexts significant differences were observed across age groups and educational levels suggesting that older age and lower educational attainment are associated with increased exposure to arboviruses It is important to note that children under 5 years of age were not included in the study due to challenges in obtaining blood samples which may limit the generalizability of the results and could lead to an underestimation of antibody prevalence in this vulnerable group pretreating samples with an anti-IgG adsorbent in serological assays is crucial to minimize this interference Although we followed the manufacturer’s recommended IgG removal procedure in our assays incomplete IgG removal may still have occurred with the Vircell Microbiologists kit This limitation could account for the elevated prevalence of individuals appearing to be in the acute phase of Zika and chikungunya in our evaluation borderline results are generally excluded without retesting and the seroprevalence of antibody classes remained unchanged with the exclusion of borderline results were donated by the Ministry of Health and are part of the agency's official diagnostic scheme This indicates that manufacturer variability may limit our study and also health services including the lack of detailed public data to support modeling efforts and provide more accurate estimates Future studies could benefit from integrating seroprevalence data with epidemiological modeling approaches such as those utilizing spatial or temporal analyses to bridge this gap and better estimate disease burden our findings provide valuable insights for strengthening public health strategies and highlight the large gap between seroprevalence and cases captured by surveillance suggesting a silent circulation of arboviruses no cases have been documented in the region where our data were collected our results suggest that chikungunya cases may be up to 84 times higher than those officially reported These studies not only shed light on past exposure levels but also play a critical role in estimating the susceptible population which is essential for epidemic forecasting and vaccination program planning This study represents the first comprehensive evaluation in the Central-West region of Brazil using a robust and well-distributed sample size Although PRNT is the 'gold standard' for differentiating flaviviruses its complexity and the high number of samples required made its use infeasible limiting confirmation of ELISA test results The challenges posed by cross-reactivity were addressed as they complicate the diagnosis of arboviral infections in regions with co-circulating arboviruses they remain the most practical option given resource constraints underscoring the urgent need for more specific assays Our findings highlight significant underreporting of arbovirus infections in São Sebastião with an estimated 36,000 individuals still susceptible to ZIKV and CHIKV emphasizing persistent risks and the critical need for improved diagnostic tools and public health strategies Our findings reveal critical challenges in detecting co-infections and managing cross-reactions underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive serological surveys in endemic regions the potential circulation of other arboviruses or non-cross-reactive Flavi- and Alphaviruses may influence serological results classified as negative further complicating disease burden estimations Addressing these gaps is essential to refine predictive and severity models for urban arboviruses our research sheds light on the high prevalence and underestimated impact of urban arboviruses in São Sebastião offering a foundational basis for future studies and guiding targeted public health actions Data is provided within the manuscript or supplementary information files and environmental risk factors for Zika and Chikungunya virus infections in Rio de Janeiro Identifying high risk areas of Zika virus infection by meteorological factors in Colombia Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of chikungunya The global economic burden of dengue: a systematic analysis Measuring the global burden of chikungunya and Zika viruses: A systematic review A review exploring the overarching burden of Zika virus with emphasis on epidemiological case studies from Brazil Detection of four dengue serotypes suggests rise in hyperendemicity in urban centers of Brazil Características da epidemia de dengue em Pinhalzinho Emergence and potential for spread of Chikungunya virus in Brazil First report of autochthonous transmission of Zika virus in Brazil Dynamics of chikungunya virus transmission in the first year after its introduction in Brazil: A cohort study in an urban community Epidemiology and costs of dengue in Brazil: a systematic literature review Zika Virus in the Americas — Yet Another Arbovirus Threat Health-related impact on quality of life and coping strategies for chikungunya: A qualitative study in Curaçao Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Chronic Chikungunya Disease in Guadeloupe Alternative strategies for mosquito-borne arbovirus control The importance of vector control for the control and elimination of vector-borne diseases Accuracy of Dengue Reporting by National Surveillance System Diagnosis of Zika virus infections: challenges and opportunities Localization and characterization of flavivirus envelope glycoprotein cross-reactive epitopes Flavivirus-induced antibody cross-reactivity Review of diagnostic plaque reduction neutralization tests for flavivirus infection Recent progresses and remaining challenges for the detection of Zika virus Benefits and Challenges in Using Seroprevalence Data to Inform Models for Measles and Rubella Elimination Building an integrated serosurveillance platform to inform public health interventions: Insights from an experts’ meeting on serum biomarkers Editorial: Current research on serological analyses of infectious diseases spatial dispersion and factors associated with flavivirus and chikungunya infection in a risk area: a population-based seroprevalence study in Brazil dengue and chikungunya population prevalence in Rio de Janeiro city and the importance of seroprevalence studies to estimate the real number of infected individuals Serological and molecular epidemiology of the Dengue Zika and Chikungunya viruses in a risk area in Brazil Transfusion-transmitted arboviruses: update and systematic review CODEPLAN. Pesquisa Distrital por Amostra de Domicílios (PDAD), São Sebastião. 2021. https://www.codeplan.df.gov.br/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Sao_Sebastiao.pdf SECRETARIA DE SAÚDE DO DISTRITO FEDERAL. Informativos Epidemiológicos Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika e Febre Amarela. https://www.saude.df.gov.br/informes-dengue-chikungunya-zika-febre-amarela Current challenges and implications for dengue chikungunya and Zika seroprevalence studies worldwide: A scoping review AmostraBrasil: um pacote R para amostragem domiciliar em municípios brasileiros Research electronic data capture (REDCap)—A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support Devleesschauwer B, Torgerson PR, Charlier J, Bénéréau J, Dorny P, Budke CM, et al. Package "prevalence": Tools for Prevalence Assessment Studies. Version 0.4.0. R Foundation for Statistical Computing; 2013. Available from: https://cran.r-project.org/package=prevalence and Zika virus infections in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review Mapping Aedes aegypti indoor resting behavior reveals a preference vulnerable to householder-led vector control Interaction of Human Behavioral Factors Shapes the Transmission of Arboviruses by Aedes and Culex Mosquitoes Spatial Distribution of Dengue in a Brazilian Urban Slum Setting: Role of Socioeconomic Gradient in Disease Risk Socioeconomic risk markers of arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) infections: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis Seroprevalence and risk factors for dengue infection in socio-economically distinct areas of Recife Chikungunya and Zika at the epicenter of the congenital microcephaly epidemic in Northeast Brazil: a population-based survey Age-dependent seroprevalence of dengue and chikungunya: inference from a cross-sectional analysis in Esmeraldas Province in coastal Ecuador Detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in febrile patients from an endemic region of dengue and chikungunya in Peru Potential Antigenic Cross-reactivity Between Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Dengue Viruses Elimination of nonspecific cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin M activities in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay by using anti-human immunoglobulin G IgM-class rheumatoid factor interference in the solid-phase radioimmunoassay of rubella-specific IgM antibodies An evaluation of the effectiveness of three immunoglobulin G (IgG) removal procedures for routine IgM serological testing Flavivirus infection—A review of immunopathogenesis Clinical and laboratory diagnosis of dengue virus infection Potential role of Candida albicans germ tube antibody in the diagnosis of deep-seated candidemia First Colombian Multicentric Newborn Screening for Congenital Toxoplasmosis Comparison of four commercial IgM and IgG ELISA kits for diagnosing brucellosis Comparative evaluation of two immunoassays for serological diagnosis of hepatitis E Clinical performance of different SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody tests Sensitivity and Specificity of two rapid tests for the diagnosis of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi in a Colombian population Evaluation of six commercial kits for the serological diagnosis of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis Persistence of Anti-Zika Virus Immunoglobulin M Antibodies in Children with Microcephaly up to Four Years after Primary Infection Prevalence of Zika virus neutralizing antibodies in healthy adults in Vietnam during and after the Zika virus epidemic season: a longitudinal population-based survey Interdependence between confirmed and discarded cases of dengue chikungunya and Zika viruses in Brazil: A multivariate time-series analysis The prevalence of IGM antibodies to Zika virus in pregnant women in Northern Nigeria Vircell Microbiologists. Vircell Microbiologists. ZIKA ELISA. https://en.vircell.com/products/zika-elisa/ Structural basis of potent Zika–dengue virus antibody cross-neutralization Euroimmun. Anti-Zika Virus ELISA (IgG). 2016. https://www.euroimmun.com/documents/Indications/Infections/Zika-virus/EI_2668_D_UK_A.pdf Kinetics of anti-ZIKV antibodies after Zika infection using two commercial enzyme-linked immunoassays Performance of 2 Commercial Serologic Tests for Diagnosing Zika Virus Infection Seroprevalence of Chikungunya virus and living conditions in Feira de Santana The increasing complexity of arbovirus serology: An in-depth systematic review on cross-reactivity High Frequency of Mayaro Virus IgM among Febrile Patients Detection of Mayaro virus in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes circulating in Goiânia-Goiás-Brazil Re-emergence of mayaro virus and coinfection with chikungunya during an outbreak in the state of Tocantins/Brazil How much of the current serious arbovirus epidemic in Brazil is dengue and how much is chikungunya? Evidence of co-circulation of multiple arboviruses transmitted by Aedes species based on laboratory syndromic surveillance at a health unit in a slum of the Federal District Estimating Dengue Transmission Intensity from Sero-Prevalence Surveys in Multiple Countries Download references We thank all the members of the ZARICS Project for their support in the field activities Head of the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at the University Hospital of the University of Brasília (HUB/UnB) for providing laboratory space for sample processing we thank CAPES for the incentive towards qualification and the financial support granted This study was funded by the Sentinela International joint laboratory (LMI Sentinela) a formal partnership between the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement Additional funding was provided by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biosciences Fiocruz - French national research institute for sustainable development Wildo Navegantes de Araújo & Walter Massa Ramalho Institute of Health Technology Assessment of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (IATS/CNPq) ESPACE-DEV (IRD - Univ Montpellier - Univ Guyane - Univ Reunion - Univ Antilles - Univ Avignon - Univ Perpignan Via Domitia) UMR SESSTIM (IRD - INSERM - Univ Aix-Marseille) and WMR were responsible for the overall conception and design of the study TN and WMR participated in field data collection and NJ supervised both the field data collection and the laboratory assays and NJ were responsible for the analysis and interpretation of the data and WMR reviewed the literature and wrote the manuscript All authors made the critical reading and contributed to the elaboration of the final version of this manuscript All authors read and approved the final manuscript The study was submitted and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade de Brasília (CAAE: 07443418.4.0000.5558) All participants provided their voluntary informed consent by signing the form Participation for children and adolescents was formalized through an assent form accompanied by parental or legal guardian consent as required The study adhered to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki The authors declare no competing interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10516-2 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission ChemosphereCitation Excerpt :The rapid urbanization and industrialization of coastal areas and the associated heavy metal(loid) (HM) pollution have emerged as major environmental concerns worldwide (Padua et al. Marine Pollution BulletinCitation Excerpt :This specific region of the SE Brazilian coast presents no recent studies concerned with sedimentation rates nearby coastal systems show rates between 0.12 and 0.76 cm yr−1 in Sepetiba Bay to the north (Gomes et al. and 0.84 and 1.26 cm yr−1 in Santos Bay (Gonçalves et al. 2013) and 0.07 and 1.86 cm yr−1 in São Sebastião Channel (Padua et al. All these sites display varying levels of anthropogenic impacts on the local environments which are followed by the large range of sedimentation rates for individual systems All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. New approach has identified some 1,000 landslide points in São Sebastião state Slide away: Camburizinho Beach at the foot of Morro da Baleia in São Sebastião.São Sebastião a municipality on the coast of São Paulo state in Brazil that was partially cut off from the rest of the country in February 2023 after a period of torrential rain That is according to an inventory produced by researchers at the University of São Paulo’s Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences and Institute of Geosciences using aerial images collected shortly after the disaster The scientists are now analyzing higher-resolution lidar images to find out how the inventory correlates with other variables and to develop a method for mapping the risk of landslides more precisely known as a landslide susceptibility assessment knowledge of the areas in which landslides occurred “We currently have digital elevation models with a spatial resolution [pixel size] of 30 m The lidar data lets us go a step farther and apply elevation models with higher resolution – as high as one meter – and more precision,” said Carlos Henrique Grohmann Grohmann is the leader of the project, which is supported by FAPESP and involves a partnership with the São Paulo State Institute of Geography and Cartography (IGC-SP an arm of the Department of Budget and Administration) The institute is creating a repository of lidar images for the entire state The expectation is that the new methodology will be ready by the end of 2025 so that policymakers and planners can use it to map landslide-prone areas in the municipality more comprehensively São Sebastião declared a state of emergency due to the damage caused by a record amount of rain totaling 683 mm in less than 15 hours – the monthly average is 300 mm At least 60 people died and hundreds were made homeless and there was significant infrastructure destruction Landslides are common geological processes in mountainous areas especially those with a tropical climate like Serra do Mar especially in irregularly occupied areas such as squatter settlements landslides are a focus for scientific studies aiming at identification Grohmann’s group uses drone images and 3D modeling The 3D results display the shape of the terrain and specific surface features characterizing the structure of the vegetation and the topography of the bare ground without the influence of forests or buildings In addition to predicting landslides in São Sebastião, the group expects to obtain a morphometric characterization and assessment of surface changes in certain local areas. The inventory that mapped landslide risks in the municipality is published in the Brazilian Journal of Geology a repository of open-access publications and information created to facilitate data and software sharing This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo image: Camburizinho Beach at the foot of Morro da Baleia in São Sebastião; field photographs taken in 2023 (left) and 2024  a municipality on the coast of São Paulo state in Brazil that was partially cut off from the rest of the country in February 2023 after a period of torrential rain according to an inventory produced by researchers at the University of São Paulo’s Institute of Astronomy Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG-USP) and Institute of Geosciences (IGc-USP) using aerial images collected shortly after the disaster The scientists are now analyzing higher-resolution LIDAR images to find out how the inventory correlates with other variables and to develop a method for mapping the risk of landslides more precisely LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is an airborne remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to generate precise 3D images of the Earth’s surface Grohmann is the leader of the project, which is supported by FAPESP and involves a partnership with the São Paulo State Institute of Geography and Cartography (IGC-SP The institute is creating a repository of LIDAR images for the entire state This is the first time the scientific community has had access to LIDAR data for the Serra do Mar region São Sebastião declared a state of emergency due to the damage caused by a record amount of rain totaling 683 millimeters (mm) in less than 15 hours – the monthly average is 300 mm not to mention the destroyed infrastructure and other material damage “What happened in São Sebastião last year was an anomaly The point is that areas once covered with vegetation have lost this protection and are now highly vulnerable,” Grohmann said.  Scientific studies have shown that extreme weather events such as severe drought, torrential rain and tropical cyclones will be increasingly frequent and intense from now on because of global warming. According to the Climate Change 2023 Synthesis Report produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) the global surface temperature is already 1.1 °C higher than in the preindustrial period (1850-1900) and is set to reach 1.5 °C above that level by 2035 Last year was the warmest in the planet’s history according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) This new reality calls for prevention and planning actions based on up-to-date information São Sebastião, which has an area of 402 square kilometers and some 81,000 inhabitants, had around 2,200 houses in 21 landslide-prone areas in 2018, according to a survey published by the Technological Research Institute (IPT an arm of the São Paulo State Department of Economic Development) The city entered into an agreement with IPT in February 2024 to update this map of high-risk areas following the 2023 disaster IPT’s 2024 report lists neighborhoods such as Barra do Una Boiçucanga and Itatinga as high-risk All were badly damaged by heavy rain in February 2023 where São Sebastião is located They may occur on various spatial and temporal scales and are among the main agents of erosion that cause geomorphic change on cliffs “Other government bodies are analyzing high-risk areas We also plan to compare the data collected in our survey with the findings of these official studies,” Grohmann said His group uses drone images and 3D modeling which determines the height of objects by measuring the time taken by pulses to return to the airborne device In addition to predicting landslides in São Sebastião the group expects to obtain a morphometric characterization and assessment of surface changes in the Toque-Toque Grande neighborhood as well as points on Morro da Baleia and Sahy About São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally it has established partnerships with funding agencies and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration You can learn more about FAPESP at www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe 10.1590/2317-4889202420240006 Landslides of the 2023 summer event of São Sebastião are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system Copyright © 2025 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Lisbon designed by architects Ruy Jervis d’Athouguia was built in 1969 to house the roughly six thousand pieces collected by its founder The main gallery showcases around a thousand of these works organised into sections dedicated to Egyptian and Greco-Roman art and a remarkable collection of works by René Lalique The museum’s main collection is currently closed until July 2026 but trust us – this is so much more than a museum Its gardens are some of the most beautiful in the city the art library is continuously great and there’s the new CAM - Modern Art Centre to admire Plus the Great Works Gulbenkian exhibition staying open until September 2025 is well worth a visit.  📍 Discover the best things to do in Lisbon Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! facebookinstagramAbout us Contact us ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007. This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes. By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements, you consent to the use of cookies. To learn more or to opt out, click "Further Information". | Julia Margeth Theuer / Unsplash one early morning) which each cost around $120 Brazilian reals ($37 USD) each way and last seven hours By car, the drive from São Paulo takes around three hours travelling east on the Ayrton Senna freeway taking the scenic Tamoios freeway down to the coastal town of Caraguatatuba and heading south on the Mário Covas freeway The trip from Rio de Janeiro is a couple of hours longer and requires travelling west on the Presidente Dutra freeway before joining Tamoios The climate in Litoral Norte is hot and humid all year round with much higher rainfall in the summer months and January February and March having the hottest temperatures and the highest precipitation October to December is a good time to visit Ilhabela as there is less rain and the beaches aren’t particularly crowded They are not known for carrying diseases though the bites themselves can be painful and very itchy Tourists are likely to come back from the island with a few bites on their feet and legs unless they are very vigilant about applying repellant Waterfalls and more secluded beaches are generally the worst spots for borrachudos Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy If you’re looking to explore the more secluded side of Ilhabela you’ll want to take along your camping gear There are campsites near all of the main beaches but make sure you pitch your tent within a licensed camping area as camping on the beach is against the law in Ilhabela Located six kilometres (almost 4 miles) to the south of the ferry crossing Praia do Julião is one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches on the mainland-facing side of Ilhabela Tucked in between the popular Feiticeira and Praia Grande beaches Praia do Julião is so small and well-hidden that you might pass right by it if you aren’t paying attention it does have some infrastructure for tourists Ilha das Cabras is one of the many tiny islands forming the archipelago of Ilhabela and is one of the best spots to see marine life around the island Located just to the south of the ferry crossing the tiny isle sits in front of the Pedras Miudas beach and is home to the Submarino Ecological Sanctuary where divers and snorkelers can swim with turtles On the northern side of the island, Praia do Jabaquara is the most beautiful and out-of-the-way beach you can reach via paved roads. The beach itself is well preserved, with gorgeous sands and a marvellous surrounding landscape full of lush Atlantic rainforest The water is almost crystal clear and on the right side of the beach is a stream that flows from the island into the sea and forms a freshwater pool surrounded by lush green vegetation and gorgeous calm waters There is not much in the way of infrastructure—only a couple of kiosks selling food and drinks—so make this a day trip and head back to Perequê as the sun goes down Bonete Visiting Bonete is unforgettable from start to finish and providing you don’t mind a bit of exploring this is likely the must-see beach in Ilhabela it is accessible by boats leaving from Perequê but another possible route is taking a 4-hour trail through the jungle leaving from the Ponta da Septuba on the southernmost point of the island there is a line of large trees providing some excellent natural shade If you happen to have (or have rented) a four-wheel drive don’t pass up the chance to visit Baía de Castelhanos The drive will take you through the beautiful Ilhabela State Park and you’ll get to see its countless waterfalls and beautiful Atlantic forest See & Do The Top Things to See and Do in Santa Catarina Guides & Tips A Complete Guide To Pão De Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) Guides & Tips The Best Non-European Destinations to Escape to This Spring See & Do The Best Hidden Gems In Rio de Janeiro Only Locals Know About See & Do The 15 Best and Cheapest Places to Visit in South America See & Do A One-Week Rio de Janeiro Itinerary Guides & Tips The Most Picturesque Spots in Sao Paulo See & Do 15 Stunning Natural Wonders in South America That Will Take Your Breath Away See & Do The Best Amazon Locations for Seeing Wildlife See & Do 15 Must-Visit Attractions in Ouro Preto See & Do The Top 10 Things to Do in Curitiba See & Do The 15 Best Destinations to Visit in Brazil US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Authorities said that as much as 683 mm of rain fell in Bertioga in a 24-hour period to 19 February 2023 Governor Tarcísio de Freitas declared a state of emergency for the cities of Ubatuba including 35 in São Sebastião – 31 in Barra do Sahy Flooding and landslides have damaged homes across the region and 566 people have been displaced or made homeless Civil Defense has distributed relief supplies in affected areas Drinking water infrastructure has been severely damaged in São Sebastião Caraguatatuba and the municipality of Ilhabela Drinking water is being delivered by tank trucks in areas of São Sebastião Dozens of roads have been washed out or blocked More than 130 teams from the Civil Defense Fire Department and the Brazilian Army have been delayed to the areas carrying out relief and search and rescue operations Much of the work is concentrated in the region of Barra do Sahy and Camburi in São Sebastião Around 80 more police officers are expected to be delayed on 20 February The government of São Paulo state said that heavy rain began on 18 February Below are some of the highest accumulations for a 24-hour period to 19 February: This is the second severe flood event in the state in the last two weeks Flooding affected the Greater São Paulo Region on 07 February State news agency Agência Brasil reported one person died in flood waters in Osasco Another person was reported missing and later found dead in floods in Parque São Lucas Heavy rain also has caused flooding and landslides in other areas of the state state Civil Protection provided an update for the period 01 December 2022 to 13 February 2023 BrazilBreaking NewsHeadline Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news New Zealand – Police Say Over 6,000 People Still Uncontactable After Cyclone Gabrielle Floods South Africa – More Floods Leave 2 Dead, 5 Missing Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList Read today's Portuguese stories delivered to your email On Easter Sunday, 20 April, São Brás de Alportel will once again be filled with colour faith and tradition with the Festa das Tochas Floras one of the most unique Easter celebrations in the country the streets of the village are artistically decorated with around 1 kilometre of flower carpets This is a collective work that begins days before with the harvesting and preparation of the flowers a challenge for the entire community and takes shape in the early hours of Sunday when hundreds of volunteers dedicate themselves to creating the carpets along which the Alleluia Procession will pass with the opening of the streets to the public and the start of the Easter Flavors Meeting the Eucharist of the Resurrection is celebrated followed by the long-awaited Alleluia Procession which runs through the flower-filled streets to the sound of the traditional song: “He is risen as he said the party continues in the Churchyard with a cultural program that includes displays of sweets and snacks awards for the Floral Games and the flower torch competition We appreciate that not everyone can afford to pay for our services but if you are able to we ask you to support The Portugal News by making a contribution – no matter how small You can change how much you give or cancel your contributions at any time Send us your comments or opinion on this article Reaching over 400,000 people a week with news about Portugal October 29, 2022JPEG February 26, 2023JPEG The water saturated soils and led to deadly flooding and landslides in the region shows a more typical view of the same area several months before the storm “Areas with very dense concentrations of landsliding are quite unusual but not unprecedented,” said Robert Emberson a landslide expert with NASA’s Earth Applied Sciences Disasters program area He added that landslide events of this extent require extremely intense localized rainfall That’s what happened in São Paulo when a storm delivered a huge amount of rain in a short amount of time. According to news reports parts of the state saw more than 680 millimeters (26 inches) in a single day exceeding the 24-hour rainfall record in some of the affected areas “South Brazil is a bit of a landslide hotspot at this time of year; high seasonal rainfall lead to characteristically high landslide hazards,” Emberson said “This amount of rainfall will leave nearly all of the hillslopes saturated destabilizing the soils and underlying bedrock these landslides have also impacted homes and infrastructure In an effort led by Dalia Kirschbaum, Earth science director and landslides expert at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA scientists have worked closely for several years with the city government in Rio de Janeiro (northeast of São Paulo) to help put satellite data to use in warnings for flooding and landslides “São Paulo state sits outside of the area where we have conducted this work,” Emberson said “But it shares much of the same geographic and climatic propensity for extensive landsliding.” NASA Earth Observatory images by Allison Nussbaum, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Kathryn Hansen View this area in EO Explorer satellite images revealed widespread landslides in the Brazilian state’s coastal municipality of São Sebastião Storms brought flooding to Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina in November 2023 continuing a trend of wet weather in the region A powerful earthquake triggered hundreds of landslides on the Japanese island Scientists are using satellite images to locate landslides following the powerful earthquakes that struck in early February highlights potential new landslides near the epicenter of Haiti’s massive 7.0 earthquake Please press and hold the button until it turns completely green If you believe this is an error, please contact our support team. 147.45.197.102 : c55fb820-6954-4aac-9014-8b5d6c66 we can't find the page that you are looking for Don't let that stop you from visiting some of our other great related content protected by reCAPTCHA.css-trhdh3::after{background-color:#fa9000;}EXPLORE MOREblinking-dotLive updatesLive updates, ‘Blackmail tool’: Hamas rejects Israeli plan to bypass Gaza aid agenciesUN and humanitarian aid groups say Israel proposed ‘dangerous’ ration ‘scheme’ after nine-week siege Francis-era reforms that saw a diverse group of cardinals join the mix make his successor nearly impossible to call The attack comes as Moscow prepares to welcome foreign leaders from China and Brazil the California federal penitentiary has been shut for more than six decades Reports say Israel now eyeing occupation of entire enclave control of aid and possible expulsion of Palestinians A study gives clues to cosmic origin of gold and heavy elements and they were created earlier than we thought Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe says the ‘ongoing’ discussions are ‘still in the early stages’ US president makes claim after Mexican leader says her country’s sovereignty ‘not for sale.’ Attack claimed by Houthis temporarily halts air traffic at Israel’s busiest airport and triggers air raid sirens Disaster in São Sebastião (SP) warns of the severity of climate change telegram Join our Telegram channel! telegram Article originally published on the website Mídia Ninja Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) symbolically transferred the headquarters of the São Paulo administration to São Sebastião the municipality most affected by the torrential rain that devastated the north coast during Carnival asked the federal government for help and flew over the affected region in the company of President Lula who interrupted his rest in Bahia to be present and face the tragedy Tarcísio thanked the head of federal management for his presence and support the Civil Defense of the state had already been alerted the previous Thursday about the approach of abnormal rains but the population of the region should have been warned about the imminence of the extreme event It may be that the governor was not informed With almost 700 millimeters of rain in 72 hours the storm was one of the biggest ever recorded But the announced climate risk and the typical vulnerability of the region with the Serra do Mar very close to the ocean Tarcísio was Minister of Infrastructure under former President Bolsonaro a notorious climate skeptic who eliminated the issue from government structure and policies It isolated the country from the rest of the world exacerbated deforestation and other sources of greenhouse gas emissions he did nothing to adapt the country to the climate crisis What is now being asked is whether the governor is also a climate sceptic In addition to the relationship with Bolsonaro when he took office he extinguished the Environment Secretariat showing aversion to the subject. The state has serious environmental problems which tend to get worse during the current mandate The disaster on the north coast should be enough to open the president's mind Tarcísio has militarized the Civil Defense and does not have the instruments to promote the sustainable management of the territory and natural resources and his ability to anticipate situations of this type is low he doesn't even have anyone to worry about it he is condemned to just run after the loss While physiological parliamentarians were busy with the secret budget and Bolsonaro was spending billions on the re-election attempt reserves the smallest amount ever recorded to face catastrophes and emergencies It is evidence of the criminal opportunism that still prevails in Congress Only seven Brazilian capitals have plans to adapt to climate change Cities with a high degree of vulnerability has been doing his best to face the crisis the state and the Union in this effort is emblematic after the political hostility and the total administrative disarticulation of the Bolsonaro government The extent of damage and the number of victims in extreme weather events are associated with uncontrolled urban expansion and in risk zones which include unprecedented volumes of precipitation in short periods of time There are also plenty of cases of administrators offering free land and tax exemptions for companies and for those who don't need it there are those who invest in populist projects and pay millionaire fees for musical concerts and other futile events but refuse to invest essential resources for the prevention of tragedies The global climate situation is getting worse and the measures already taken by some countries are insufficient to halt and reverse the trend states and countries will be left behind if they are not capable of prioritizing what is essential to avoid climate catastrophes and to promote basic adaptation conditions for their populations Hopefully this painful lesson will open the eyes and hearts of the responsible authorities The most relevant news for you to form your opinion on the socio-environmental agenda LAST ISSUE “What’s going to drive you off this land is hunger,” an official from ICMBio the Chico Mendes Institute of Biodiversity Conservation cautioned fishing families and settlers living along the mid-reaches of the Xingu River in the state of Pará in the Brazilian Amazon six years after the federal government absorbed the traditional riverine communities into the newly created Serra do Pardo National Park — a decision made without consulting the local people those words were perceived as a clear threat: they feared that ICMBio the federal institute that oversees the park would deprive them of everything they needed to sustain their traditional way of life crushed by a fingernail,” says a young man from São Sebastião do Xingu the hamlet where many of the families live And they had good reason to worry: Brazil’s conception of a national park is modelled on the U.S where the overriding priority is to protect ecosystems the authorities press for the relocation of those found living within newly declared Brazilian national parks even when they have settled in traditional communities that have been established for many years the São Sebastião residents felt a profound connection with their land and for much of the second half of the 20th century braved loggers and violent land thieves to keep it they chose the path of resistance and persistence though the handful of families living there still don’t know yet if they’ll be allowed to stay even as they endure the challenges of living within a national park including a perennial lack of basic human services picks up a photo showing a dugout canoe on the Xingu River Her gaze moves from the image of her fisherman son to the shadowy landforms in the background Her eyes and fingers concentrate on the far horizon in the picture “I’m sure of that because of the shape of the river,” she explains like most of the dozens of families now living inside Serra do Pardo National Park and around it are descended from rubber tappers as well as indigenous groups in a region known as Terra do Meio (the land In between) a stretch of forest flanked by the Xingu and Iriri rivers bordering the municipal districts of Altamira and São Félix do Xingu The hamlet was set up in the early 20th Century by a seringalista mainly from the impoverished Brazilian Northeast indigenous people used to wander at will through the region though the arrival of the rubber tappers had a profoundly negative impact on the Indian’s social organization The rubber baron allocated dozens of small forest stretches to the rubber tappers “The men who established the families here came from outside,” explains 41-year-old Lucivaldo Vieira da Silva who relates the family’s genealogy: Dona Albertina’s son His father was born further down the Xingu River the son of a migrant from the district of Castanhal in the very north of Pará quite often made families by forming relationships with indigenous women Indigenous knowledge acquired from the women helped the men diversify their livelihood when the price of rubber fell That is how these traditional communities came to rely on subsistence farming the collection of forest products (including Brazil nuts and pilocarpus (Pilocarpus jaborandi) a leaf used by the pharmaceutical industry) an activity now banned within the national park The rubber trade faded away completely along the Xingu by the late 1980s That’s around the time when outsiders started arriving in search of timber Rival logging groups sought out clusters of valuable trees in the thick forests frequently fighting between themselves over prized groves masses of them,” a local resident remembers “They used gunmen to stop a rival logger stealing their timber,” another resident recalls The loggers created numerous tracks through the forest which land thieves then utilized to take over vast tracts to set up cattle ranches One Xingu resident remembers: “Everyone claimed to be the owner.” Over the same period peasant families from other Brazilian states began migrating into the regionTwo of these families settled on the outskirts of São Sebastiãp where they still live sharing the problems of the other families “This was a time when might was right,” recalls a São Sebastião resident Many families were forced off their land at gunpoint Seu José Lopes da Silva was among those illegally evicted He describes his feeling of powerlessness: “Those with arms had their way the residents were stunned to learn that a group of elite landowners had bought the land on which São Sebastião stood and that the entire community would be forced to vacate and then they knock everything down with a tractor?” In the face of repeated protests by the residents these so-called landowners agreed to resettle the hamlet higher up the Xingu River That, of course, wasn’t the end of upheaval and uncertainty: the creation of the Serra do Pardo National Park was announced in February 2005. That decision came in response to the furore over the assassination of the U.S. missionary, Dorothy Stang as the Brazilian government rapidly set up a mosaic of protected areas in the Terra do Meio to combat land theft and other predatory activities all the territory along the left bank of this stretch of the Xingu River was to have been turned into a Resex (an extractivist reserve) a type of conservation unit where traditional inhabitants are allowed to stay on and practice sustainable livelihoods according to the residents of São Sebastião they were informed that their community was to be absorbed by the Serra do Pardo National Park a much stricter type of conservation unit where families couldn’t stay The Park was to cover 445,408 hectares (1.1 million acres) “We were all amazed,” recalls Domingos Pereira da Silva Valdenir Bezerra de Morias also remembers: “They said: ‘Do you agree to becoming a Resex You can go on doing everything you do now.’ Everyone said they arrived and said: ‘Do you know that now you’re in a National Park?’ We said: ‘No.’ We signed the proposal to become a reserve We didn’t sign to become a [national] park’.” Unbeknown to the families a new federal study had been carried out and the boundaries of the Resex had changed the families admit that this flurry of government initiatives did bring some benefits and an independent branch of government) identified and mapped the area occupied by land thieves ICMBio began fining those responsible for large-scale deforestation One successful initiative was the Pirate Cattle Operation which shut down illegal ranching activities “I thank the government for turning its attention to us here,” says João Inácio Assunção an elderly resident forced to leave during the period of violence before the park’s founding The Ministry of the Environment estimates that by the time federal action was taken 10 percent of the area of the Serra do Pardo National Park had been illegally deforested and converted to pasture By the conclusion of the five-month Pirate Cattle Operation 30,000 head of cattle were removed from the park and a neighboring conservation unit while the authorities acted effectively in punishing and eradicating land theft they failed to guarantee the rights of the traditional river communities Brazil is a signatory of the International Labour Organization’s Convention 169 which requires that governments consult the peoples concerned “whenever consideration is being given to legislative or administrative measures which may affect them directly.” But this did not happen in the case of the Xingu River settlements when incorporated into the national park Other coercive acts that appear to have violated national and international laws include ICMBio rulings that the families were not allowed to carry out small-scale subsistence agriculture or even receive visits from friends and families “Nobody could visit us,” says Maria Neusa Teixeira da Silva Of all the actions taken against the settlements this was the one the people found most cruel “I said: ‘I can put up with anything but this resulted in a decade-long failure by the state to provide basic public services in health education and transportation to the region “If only we had schools,” laments Magno dos Santos Gomes his family left its home along the Xingu River and moved to the town of São Félix do Xingu so that the children could have access to a school Complaints to municipal authorities over the lack of services apparently fell on deaf ears the community of São Sebastião made a formal complaint to the MPF about the municipality’s neglect It was only then that the local government recognized that it had obligations to the community told Mongabay that the situation for São Sebastião residents was “very serious.… People are leaving the region because of the lack of assistance.… We must take urgent action so that they can return home.” when pressed to say when mobile health visits would occur in São Sebastião or when the hamlet’s energy generator would be repaired the mayor was evasive: “it’s hard for us to take even these minimum actions,” she responded “The municipal district has 124,000 inhabitants with some people living up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) away from the main town.” The families of São Sebastião agree that change is coming ICMBio has been in talks with the inhabitants negotiating a deal by which the settlers will be allowed to go on practicing a traditional way of life and livelihoods inside the national park with the document apparently stuck in the institute’s upper echelons “It’s now 13 years since we’ve had a park here and nothing has been sorted out,” complained one resident We’re scared to plant crops and then lose everything The ICMBio press office admitted to Mongabay that the process is taking time but said this is because it is trying “to negotiate with the families in a truly participatory way guaranteeing their effective involvement.” When asked about its earlier infringement on the community’s legal rights ICMBio responded that it is going through a process of “institutional learning.” some within ICMBio are still talking of resettling the families rejects this solution: “The protection of the environment and the creation of a specially protected territorial park doesn’t mean that the traditional community can’t remain on its land and be supplied with the public services it needs,” she says adding that MPF’s role is to achieve a negotiated settlement “It is only if this proves impossible that the MPF will go to court.” the hamlet church in São Sebastião took on a festive appearance as the building was garlanded with bunting and colored lights Residents were preparing for the annual celebration in honor of the town’s patron saint an event observed here in much the same way for more than a century as the community welcomed friends and family from near and far ICMBio threatened to ban the annual festival arousing disgust and defiance from local residents perhaps as part of its “institutional learning,” ICMBio’s prohibition was never imposed – though it wouldn’t have likely been respected if it had been involving a large extended community network renews the people’s faith in the powers of their founding saint The celebration has also become a powerful expression of the inhabitants’ determination to stay on the land they have called home for generations FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] formerly a 1990s office with open spaces and light-partitioned offices The project involved the removal of these structures revealing areas with limited natural light and ventilation To address these challenges, the design incorporated a new accessible courtyard and reorganized an existing one. This strategic move enabled the positioning of the private program in the rear section of the apartment. The social area, marked by fluidity, was crafted as a sequence of interconnected spaces defined by two non-orthogonal walls painted in pink These walls initiate at the apartment’s entrance creating moments of compression through diagonal and curved designs leading to more expansive and inviting spaces all images by do mal o menos – Architectural Photography acknowledging the increasing overlap of work and family spaces and providing a responsive solution to evolving lifestyle needs São Sebastião 123 by ala.rquitectos revitalizes a 1990s Lisbon apartment a new accessible courtyard and reorganized existing space enhanced the apartment’s layout the project involved removing structures to address limited natural light and ventilation a large blue box serves as a pivotal design element the central piece functions as the kitchen core the central volume facilitates the expansion of spaces and fosters dynamic interplay within the apartment ala.rquitectos’ design aligns with contemporary trends the added walls create moments of compression the thoughtful arrangement reflects the overlap of work and family spaces in modern living the social area features interconnected spaces defined by non-orthogonal pink walls name: São Sebastião 123 architect: ala.rquitectos | @ala.rquitectos photography: do mal o menos – Architectural Photography | @domalomenos designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Close Donate now: Support recovery from severe storms across the U.S. At least 24 inches (600 millimeters) of rain fell in a single day on the coastal region Rain continued through the end of the month hindering search and rescue/recovery and other relief and recovery efforts The disaster struck during Carnival, and many festivities were canceled. Tourists were asked to stay away from “the region in order to avoid overloading hospitals São Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas declared three days of mourning in the state and a 180-day state of calamity for six towns Some of the main highways were blocked or even washed away by landslides (Photo: Search and rescue efforts on the slope in Barra do Sahy, in São Sebastião following landslides, Feb. 22, 2023. Credit: Government of the State of SP; CC BY 2.0) See all The official death toll climbed to 65 on Feb. 27, with 64 deaths in São Sebastião and one in Ubatuba. Of these, 57 people had been identified, including 21 men On Wednesday, Feb. 22 “a local court granted São Paulo state and the municipality of São Sebastiao permission to force residents from at-risk areas who refuse to move as a last resort The floods in coastal São Paulo state were the latest in a series of such disasters to recently strike Brazil can have tragic consequences during the country’s rainy season.” Brazil has a significant social safety network with various nongovernmental and governmental organizations that have responded to the flooding The area hit by the disaster is the wealthiest state in the country but that doesn’t mean that all people affected will have their needs met Philanthropy’s role is to support those that are underserved and under-resourced As with all disasters and large-scale emergencies donating money to groups already engaged and coordinating on the ground at the disaster site is most effective They often can take that monetary donation and double or triple the value through local partnerships purchasing locally when possible can reinvigorate the economy in the disaster-affected area ensuring that support is relevant and timely Cash assistance can also help move families faster toward rebuilding their lives Those whose homes and businesses have been damaged will need immediate support with temporary shelter and basic household items Continued access to education for children and child-friendly spaces as well as protection of marginalized individuals are also priority concerns long-term recovery needs will include rebuilding and fixing homes and the replacement of cars and household items Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva does not want to have homes rebuilt in the areas at risk for flooding or landslides If you have questions or need help with making a donation to the CDP Global Recovery Fund, please contact development. (Photo: The Group for the Rescue of Animals in Disasters rescuing animals that were trapped in the rubble in São Sebastião after heavy rains that affected the region, Feb. 21, 2023. Source: Government of the State of São Paulo via Twitter) If you are a responding NGO or a donor, please send updates on how you are working in this crisis to Tanya Gulliver-Garcia We welcome the republication of our content. Please credit the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. If you are a donor looking for recommendations on how to help with disaster recovery, please email Regine A. Webster According to the government, the São Paulo Social Fund and the Civile Defense Coordination “have sent 112.5 tons of donations to families who lost property” due to the floods and mudslides On Feb. 26, the government reported that the São Paulo Secretary of State for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities sent more than 1,500 items to the North Coast including equipment and accessories for people with disabilities The products are the result of intense work by the government in partnership with companies and civil society organizations to collect donations for the injured The Brazilian Navy’s largest vessel – a multipurpose aircraft ship – arrived in the area on Feb as well as to serve as an emergency field hospital As with most disasters, cash donations are recommended by disaster experts as they allow for on-the-ground agencies to direct funds to the greatest area of need support economic recovery and ensure donation management does not detract from disaster recovery needs CDP has also created a list of suggestions for foundations to consider related to disaster giving Give with confidence The Center for Disaster Philanthropy is a 501(c)(3) charity that has earned Charity Navigator’s four-star rating and Candid’s Platinum Transparency seal Made with by creatives with a conscience SAO SEBASTIAO, Brazil (AP) — The death toll from flooding and landslides in Brazil’s southern state of Sao Paulo reached 44 on Tuesday as searches continued for dozens still missing Most of the search was concentrated in the mountainous coastal municipality of Sao Sebastiao where 43 deaths have been recorded Firefighters still hoped to find people alive in the rubble of houses slammed by landslides during a weekend deluge said Sao Sebastiao city hall worker Pedro de Rosario so we have a lot of hope,” de Rosario said Seven bodies have been identified and released for burial while nearly 800 people are homeless and 1,730 people have been displaced the Sao Paulo state government said in a statement Members of the armed forces joined the search and rescue efforts and starting Thursday the Navy will build a hospital with up to 300 beds to help relief efforts Tarcisio de Freitas said at a news conference in Sao Sebastiao on Tuesday READ MORE: Bolsonaro says he plans to return to Brazil in the coming weeks Authorities are digging through the mud and clearing roads but parts of the highway connecting Rio de Janeiro state with Sao Paulo’s port city of Santos are still blocked by landslides Another road connecting the city of Bortiga to inland Sao Paulo remains completely blocked Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited the region on Monday he called for people living in the hillside areas to be relocated to safer regions Precipitation in Sao Sebastiao surpassed 600 millimeters (23.6 inches) during a 24-hour period over the weekend among the largest such downpours ever in such a short period in Brazil Around 7.5 tons of aid items including food water and hygiene kits have already been distributed to the victims The affected area, on the northern coast of Sao Paulo state and famous for beach resorts flanked by mountains, is a frequent Carnival destination for wealthy tourists who prefer to stay away from massive street parties in big cities. By Mauricio Savarese, David Biller, Associated Press Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins Sao Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas declared a period of official mourning throughout the state due to the tragedy on the north coast “Official mourning is declared in the State in a manifestation of deep regret for the victims of the heavy rains that hit the municipalities of Bertioga São Sebastião and Ubatuba,” the governor said on 20 February Forty deaths have now been confirmed; 39 in São Sebastião and one in Ubatuba The Secretary of State for Health reported 18 adults and 5 children have received hospital treatment for injuries six are in a serious condition while 13 were described as stable Large-scale rescue and relief efforts are ongoing More than 600 people from the security and rescue forces of the Government of the State of São Paulo the municipal government of São Sebastião and volunteers are working in affected areas The priority continues to help the victims and supply more than 2,496 displaced people including stretches of the Rio-Santos highway which has left an area stretching from Barra do Sahy to Boiçucanga in the municipality of São Sebastião isolated Governor Tarcísio de Freitas said that the accumulation of rain in the cities of the North Coast of São Paulo was the highest recorded in Brazil’s history According to the National Center for Disaster Monitoring Prediction (Cemaden) 335 mm in Ubatuba and 234 mm in Caraguatatuba The previous high was set in 2022 when Petrópolis in Rio de Janeiro state recorded 530 mm of rain in 24 hours The governor said the catastrophe on the north coast is one of the worst incidents of flooding and landslides in the state, and compared the situation to the floods in Guarujá in 2020, and in Itaóca in 2014 President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and a delegation of ministers and technicians from the Federal Government flew over some of the affected areas on 20 February and thereafter held meetings with local and state authorities including Governor Tarcísio de Freitas and the mayor of São Sebastião President Lula highlighted the need to help the most vulnerable people in particular those who have lost their homes He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s willingness to help solve the problem of housing in areas at risk of flooding and landslides He stressed the need to rebuild housing on safer ground Germany – Insurers Demand a Stop to Building New Homes in Flood-Risk Areas UK – Thousands of Trees to Be Planted at Flood Defence Project in Northern England “ O sistema atmosférico não cria uma situação individual para cada ponto ressalta especialista - Foto: Divulgação observatório do clima which is increasingly intensifying and affecting impoverished populations in different regions of the country In the Amazon, dozens of municipalities have declared a state of emergency due to rivers being at historic lows. Entire communities are isolated and have difficulty accessing food and drinking water. The dry weather has also contributed to spreading fires which destroy forests and plantations and pollute the air are not restricted to the Amazonian territory all regions suffer from disproportionate heat According to the Natural Disaster Monitoring Center (Cemaden, in Portuguese), Brazil is experiencing the worst drought in recent history. At the same time, three months ago, Rio Grande do Sul recorded the worst flood in the state's history According to data from the Drought Monitor around 200 Brazilian municipalities are still dealing with extreme drought especially in the state of São Paulo (82 towns) Amazonas has the largest total area with drought in July the area affected by the phenomenon increased from 5.96 million to 7.04 million square kilometers equivalent to 83% of Brazil's territory Rio Grande do Sul has remained drought-free for ten consecutive months Extreme weather events: Brazil's new “normal” the relationship between devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul and deforestation in the Amazon makes sense given that all atmospheric dynamics are connected who is a professor in the Graduate Program of Geography at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS explains how the recent disasters in southern Brazil the fires in the southeastern area of the country and the droughts in northern Brazil are all interconnected The geologist explains that we are under the climatic variations of El Niño which is nothing more than the warming of the waters This phenomenon normally occurs twice every 10 years and usually lasts for 18 months El Niño has intensified by greenhouse gases this change has led to the results we've seen in recent months which normally comes from the south towards the north It shocked with extremely hot pressure in the southeast portion of the country and wasn’t strong enough to advance all the rain that supposedly had fallen in the country’s southeastern or northeastern areas was blocked by a large mass of hot air the rainfall that should have been distributed to other parts of Brazil was concentrated in this region here in Rio Grande do Sul.” This explains why Brazilians have experienced extremely harmful natural events The professor also warns that the warm air mass in southeastern Brazil which prevented the cold front from advancing is an example of the relationship between global warming and the intensification of natural disasters “The atmospheric system doesn’t create a situation for each place; they are intertwined.” That’s why deforestation compromises the capacity of forests to regulate the climate across the American continent The consequence is the intensification of extreme events such as heavy rains that turn into storms and then floods a climate change scientist and coordinator of the Greenhouse Gas Laboratory at the National Institute for Space Research (INPE her research team has focused on analyzing the factors that determine these changes “We analyzed what had happened over the last 40 years in the Amazon and calculated how much each area had lost We found a very close correlation between more deforestation and lack of rain and an increase in temperature September and October,” explains Luciana are proof of the connection between vegetation and climate control and that's kind of obvious because trees release water vapor into the atmosphere The [Amazon] forest throws into the atmosphere an amount of water similar to what the Amazon River throws into the ocean every day Can you imagine the Amazon River flowing uphill?” Lúcia guarantees that deforestation is largely responsible for the rise in temperature in the region “For water to leave its liquid state (the state in which it is in the ground) and turn into vapor in the atmosphere because the water turning into steam is consuming energy in the form of heat in the Amazon,” says Luciana “When the number of trees in the forest decreases this process slows down and the temperature rises because the temperatures there are extremely high and there is a very important water vapor deficit concentrated in this region,” she explains living conditions in Brazil depend on a significant transformation in the economic model and public investment priorities “We needed to declare a moratorium on soy production and prioritize forest restoration projects there but the Mato Grosso state government is doing the opposite But agribusiness itself is going to bankrupt because there is no agriculture without water Luciana points out a safe path to fight future disasters it is urgent to combat it with immediate environmental conservation and reforestation measures both in the Amazon and on the riverside slopes of Rio Grande do Sul This is the only way to protect not only forests’ socio-biodiversity but also the inhabitants of the most vulnerable regions The scientist also defended the idea that agribusiness “The only money that counts is the balance of trade If people were to consider how much tax these agribusiness people don't pay how much they borrow at very low interest rates and how much it costs the Brazilian state to repair the damage caused by extreme events we'd see that this model causes a lot of damage to the country So why do we insist on investing so many resources in monoculture?” she asks to look at the population's demands and invest in projects that protect the lives of those affected [by climate disasters]” What do people hit by climate change think people all over Brazil hit by extreme climate events took to the streets to demand the protection of the population's fundamental rights in the face of the impacts caused by the current economic model and deforestation in different territories of the country from the northern state of Rondônia to the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul Organized by the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB, in Portuguese), the slogan of the day of struggles was “Save the Amazon We are all affected!” to denounce the impacts caused by the devastation of the world's largest rainforest but now it seems that the situation is worse Fishermen have already given up trying to fish because the river is just over a meter deep,” says Maurício one of the people affected who took part in the MAB actions in Porto Velho the new reality to which these populations are subjected by the climate crisis not only aggravates the scenario of insecurity near dams but also affects the expansion of projects related to the energy transition and worsens the living conditions of the working class in the face of environmental catastrophes the economic model adopted in Brazil has led to an enormous concentration of wealth and increased socio-spatial The populations affected by dams and by major works in general have historically been victims of this process these populations are 'doubly affected' as they are more vulnerable due to the risk of dam breaks as well as suffering the tragedy of extreme droughts,” says Elisa She emphasized that the recurring tragedies throughout the country show that there is an urgent need for a solution to support those affected through measures to adapt to and confront climate change but also through reparation policies for the affected populations among the actions planned for September 5 were demonstrations occupations and public assemblies to discuss the different tragedies underway in Brazil that are radically changing the lives of millions of Brazilians.   Hit by the historic flood in May in Rio Grande do Sul mentioned at the beginning of this news story was also motivated to take to the streets on September 5 In June she went through a complicated experience Marisa gave birth to her second child without a home because everything she had bought to welcome her child was washed away in the mud for 34 years and has never witnessed such severe flooding she says she will fight to build a different future for her daughter *This news story is the result of a partnership between Brasil de Fato RS and the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB, in Portuguese). All original content produced and editorially authored by Brasil de Fato may be reproduced, provided it is not altered and proper credit is given. All original content produced and editorially authored by Brasil de Fato may be reproduced, provided it is not altered and proper credit is given. Reporting by Eduardo Simoes and Gabriel Araujo; editing by Alex Richardson Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved A public health worker sprays insecticide in a school during a fumigation campaign against mosquitos that transmit dengue, at the Sao Sebastiao neighborhood, in Brasilia, Brazil, on March 9, 2024. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua) Hundreds of rescuers searched Monday for survivors of landslides and flooding that killed at least 36 people along the coast of Brazil's southern state of Sao Paulo following a huge weekend downpour. Worst hit was the city of Sao Sebastiao, where at least 35 were dead. In neighboring Ubatuba a 7-year-old girl was killed. The disaster, in an area famous for beaches flanked by mountains, prompted cancellations in many cities of the Carnival festivities just getting under way. Gov. Tarcisio de Freitas told television network Globo that another 40 people were missing. His state government said in a statement that nearly 800 people were homeless. Television footage showed flooded homes with only their roofs visible. Residents used small boats to carry items and people to elevated positions. Members of the armed forces joined the search and rescue efforts, aggravated by poor access to many areas after landslides blocked the snaking roads in the region's highlands and floods washed away chunks of pavement in low-lying and oceanfront areas. Augusto said about 50 houses collapsed in the city due to the landslides, and he posted several videos of destruction and search efforts, including one of a baby being rescued by locals lined up on a flooded street. The highway connecting Rio de Janeiro state with Sao Paulo's port city of Santos was blocked by landslides and floodwaters. Precipitation in Sao Sebastiao had surpassed 600 millimeters (23.6 inches) during a 24-hour period over the weekend, among the largest such downpours ever in such a short period in Brazil. Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he would visit the region later Monday. He was due to meet with Gov. de Freitas at Sao Sebastiao's theatre, where search operations were being coordinated. De Freitas declared a state of emergency for the hardest-hit cities, including Sao Sebastiao, Ubatuba, Ilhabela and Bertioga, which enables expedited allocation of funds for relief. The heavy rain affected water, electricity and phone services, according to a statement from the state government, which posted on Twitter a video showing 30,000 liters of water being transported to Sao Sebastiao. Hygiene kits, blankets, sleeping bags, mattresses and medical supplies have also been sent. The affected area, on the northern coast of Sao Paulo state, is a frequent Carnival destination for wealthy tourists who prefer to stay away from massive street parties in big cities. Hundreds of rescuers searched Monday for survivors of landslides and flooding that killed at least 36 people along the coast of Brazil's southern state of Sao Paulo following a huge weekend downpour In neighboring Ubatuba a 7-year-old girl was killed in an area famous for beaches flanked by mountains prompted cancellations in many cities of the Carnival festivities just getting under way Tarcisio de Freitas told television network Globo that another 40 people were missing His state government said in a statement that nearly 800 people were homeless Television footage showed flooded homes with only their roofs visible Residents used small boats to carry items and people to elevated positions aggravated by poor access to many areas after landslides blocked the snaking roads in the region's highlands and floods washed away chunks of pavement in low-lying and oceanfront areas Augusto said about 50 houses collapsed in the city due to the landslides and he posted several videos of destruction and search efforts including one of a baby being rescued by locals lined up on a flooded street The highway connecting Rio de Janeiro state with Sao Paulo's port city of Santos was blocked by landslides and floodwaters Precipitation in Sao Sebastiao had surpassed 600 millimeters (23.6 inches) during a 24-hour period over the weekend Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he would visit the region later Monday de Freitas at Sao Sebastiao's theatre where search operations were being coordinated De Freitas declared a state of emergency for the hardest-hit cities which enables expedited allocation of funds for relief according to a statement from the state government which posted on Twitter a video showing 30,000 liters of water being transported to Sao Sebastiao mattresses and medical supplies have also been sent is a frequent Carnival destination for wealthy tourists who prefer to stay away from massive street parties in big cities Circulation on the Blue Line of the Lisbon Metro between the stations of São Sebastião and Laranjeiras has once again been interrupted at 11:00 due to a fault in the signalling according to information made available by the company on social network X Circulation on the Blue Line had already been suspended this morning between the stations of São Sebastião and Laranjeiras the company again signalled a new interruption due to a fault in the signalling between those stations Linha Azul: 🔴 devido a avaria na sinalização a circulação está interrompida entre as estações Laranjeiras e S não é possível prever a duração da interrupção O Metro está a desenvolver todos os esfo (cont) it is not yet possible to predict the duration of the interruption adding that it is making every effort to resume circulation The Lisbon Metro operates daily with four lines: Yellow (Rato-Odivelas) Blue (Reboleira-Santa Apolónia) and Red (Airport-São Sebastião) The metro normally runs between 06:30 and 01:00 People evacuate a flooded area after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai Residents and their pets evacuate a flooded area after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai A soldier evacuates a dog from an area flooded by heavy rains Streets are flooded after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai Firefighters evacuate people from a flooded area after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai An aerial view of an area flooded by heavy rains A man wades through an area flooded by heavy rains People evacuate an area flooded by heavy rains People evacuate from an area flooded by heavy rains Heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul killed 39 people the state civil defense agency said Friday as record-breaking floods devastated cities and forced thousands to leave their homes The death toll from heavy rains in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state jumped to 56 as of Saturday morning according to the state’s civil defense agency Helicopters are being used to rescue residents on the rooftops who were isolated in their homes by the widespread flooding that has already displaced more than 30,000 people It was the fourth such environmental disaster in a year September and November 2023 that killed 75 people in total The flooding statewide has surpassed that seen during a historic 1941 deluge according to the Brazilian Geological Service water levels were at their highest since records began nearly 150 years ago a dam at a hydroelectric plant between the cities of Bento Goncalves and Cotipora partially collapsed and entire cities in the Taquari River valley 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the state capital a massively swollen river swept away a bridge that connected it with the neighboring city of Linha Nova communications and water cuts across the state More than 24,000 people had to leave their homes residents struggled to provide updates or information to their relatives living in other states Helicopters flew continually over the cities while stranded families with children awaited rescue on the rooftops lives in the city of Lajeado in the Taquari River valley and told The Associated Press she has never before seen a scenario like the one she is now experiencing “People were making barricades in front of hospitals with sand and gravel It felt like a horror movie,” she said by phone Some people in her region were so desperate that they threw themselves into the water currents Neumann’s own neighborhood wasn’t inundated but has no running water and she hasn’t showered since Tuesday She said she’s collecting rainwater in a basin to be able to cook A clothing store she owns in the city’s central area is flooded The downpour started Monday and is expected to last at least through Saturday chief meteorologist at the National Center for Monitoring and Alerts of Natural Disasters told Brazil’s public television network Friday Eduardo Leite alerted the state’s population — known as gauchos — about the persistence of rains and floods The situation was expected to worsen in Porto Alegre I am here steadfast and I guarantee that we will not falter to ensure that everything within our reach is done.” “The first words from Minister Fumio Kishida in the meeting we held were of solidarity with the people of the state of Rio Grande do Sul who are victims by one of the largest floods we have ever known Never before in the history of Brazil had there been such a quantity of rain in one single location,” Lula said a 36-year-old scientist and PhD candidate in climatology at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul told The Associated Press that the state is located in a region with certain characteristics that amplify El Niño’s destructive potential “Models have long predicted that Rio Grande do Sul will continue to see an increase in average annual precipitation and extreme precipitation meaning more concentrated and severe rainfall,” she said Biomedicine and PharmacotherapyCitation Excerpt :These species were identified by parataxonomists: Luis C Voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium and Ethnobotanical Collection of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (Herbário MG) [29] Brazil -- Hundreds of rescuers searched Monday for survivors of landslides and flooding that killed at least 36 people along the coast of Brazil's southern state of.. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sending relief supplies and emergency aid to those affected by heavy rains and landslides in Brazil’s São Paulo state The donated items will help rescue the victims and house the homeless, reported the Church’s Autossuficiência Brasil Facebook page A record amount of rain fell in the coastal area east of São Paulo, leading to the destruction of hundreds of homes and killed at least 48 people, but dozens of people are still missing according to a news report from Reuters the area was hit by more than 23.6 inches (600 millimeters) of rain The BBC reported that many of the make-shift homes built on steep hillsides could not withstand the force of the water It’s estimated that more than 9 million people in Brazil live in areas prone to flooding or landslides Items that are being donated by the Church include bottled water local members of the Church are serving as “Helping Hands” — donning the yellow shirts and vests as they serve where they are needed in their communities The donations began arriving in the municipality of São Sebastião on Feb. 24, said a post from Autossuficiência Brasil News reports explained that the coastal area had been particularly busy with families and tourists heading to the beaches during the carnival period likely making the human toll worse and straining relief organizations Landslides and flooding are a recurring problem in Brazil. Last year hundreds of people were killed in Petrópolis, north of Rio de Janeiro, from torrential rains and mudslides. The Church and members also responded with aid for the area. Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world He pulled off both with this four-house “condominium” developed and commissioned in 2011 by Brazilian construction company GD8 and owned by Ana Lucia Marcondes, who found it ideal for her family to be able to spend weekends together but still be separate enough. Casas built four structures, each three stories tall with its own private access to the beach, yet still sharing a main entrance and the amenities of the 25,000-square-foot property. , opens new tab managed to restore water supply to the region.The floods in coastal Sao Paulo state were the latest in a series of such disasters to recently strike Brazil can have tragic consequences during the country's rainy season.The deluge happened as tourists thronged to local beaches during the annual Carnival holiday likely making the human toll much worse.Reporting by Gabriel Araujo and Eduardo Simoes; Editing by Steven Grattan