The Floods in Rio de Janeiro

We need to continue to pray for the victims of natural disasters. As we pray for the earthquake victims of Haiti and Chile, we also pray for the flood victims of Brazil. The following comes from the Salesian News Agency:

The strong storms which on 6 April hit the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro and caused more than 100 deaths and 60 missing persons, also caused problems for the Salesian schools in the area.

The difficulties experienced by teachers and pupils in reaching the schools led to them suspending normal activities; some districts were completely cut off by land slips caused by the heavy rains.

The worst situation is that experienced by the “Our Lady Help of Christians” Institute Praça de Bandeira, run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA). The flooding reached the first floor making access impossible. On Monday the students and staff were unable to leave and return home, and had to stay on the school premises.

At the Salesian Institute in Rocha Miranda lessons were suspended. According to Fr Braz Carnielli, the buildings were not damaged. The same applies to the “Alberto Monteiro de Carvalho” School in Jacarezinho, and the “Saint Francis of Sales” Institute in the Riachelo district. In this last building the rain damaged and partially cut the telephone system.

In the city of Niteroi too lessons were suspended. Fr Antidio de Andrade Carvalho, Delegate for Schools in the “Saint John Bosco” Province of Brazil-Belo Horizonte (BBH), reports that the city has been seriously affected by the floods, with at least 50 people who have lost their lives. The buildings of the “Saint Rose” school and of the “Colegio Salesiano Región Oceánica” however have not been damaged he says, although there will be a great deal of clearing and cleaning up to do in the flooded classrooms.