5 Dead In Landslide In
Northeastern Brazil
Rio de Janeiro - Five
people, including an
eight-year-old child,
died on Wednesday
morning in a landslide
in northeastern Brazil.
Two houses were damaged
by the landslide in
Recife, Pernambuco
state, which was
probably caused by water
infiltration in a clay
scarp after a burst in
water pipes, the local
Fire Department said.
The rescue team took
three hours to remove
the bodies from the
debris. The other
residents were evacuated
as three gas pipes also
ruptured after the
landslide.
The landslide is likely
the second of its kind
caused by similar
reasons in the region.
According to the
residents there, the
local water company was
warned about the rupture
in the water pipe, but
did nothing to fix the
problem.
Stonemason Cicero
Francisco da Silva, who
lost his parents, son,
and grandson in the
landslide, said he had
contacted the water
company several times.
"They say they cannot
replace them because the
cost is too high. How
high is this cost now?"
he said.
The Recife water company
said it would wait for
the investigations to be
concluded, claiming that
it would be unwise to
jump into conclusions.
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