Gradually, the movement of ambulances, backhoes and military personnel begins to decrease in the city of Petrópolis. This Sunday (27), the scenario was already very different from the one found in the first days after the rain that destroyed part of the city on February 15.
With no tourists and few residents circulating, traffic in the city was calm. Despite normality in some parts of the city, there are still partially closed streets. City hall officials work indicating alternative paths. At least 16 roads, which were blocked by landslides, are now open.
In addition to reorganizing traffic, it also continues to be a cleaning job to remove all the mud that has spread across the city. According to the City Hall, 41,000 tons of rubble have already been discarded. Electricity supply was normalized for 30 thousand users and water supply was normalized for 96.3% of users.
This Sunday, almost all shops were closed. On Teresa Street no stores have opened. On Rua do Imperador, two bakeries and few restaurants were open. A traditional steakhouse, which has been operating since 1961 in the city center, opened its doors for the second day in a row after being closed for more than ten days. The establishment underwent intensive cleaning work. Antique furniture goes to a joinery for restoration.
“Despite all the pain… We have acquaintances, we have friends, we have an employee who went through this situation. He saved himself but lost family members. We are looking to help as much as possible, but we also need to keep going. There are many families in here, like all the commerce. Let’s start over and welcome the tourists that are so common in our city. Soon God willing”, said Gilmar Pacheco, manager of the steakhouse.
At the workshop Hill, the work of the rescue teams continues. Army teams control one of the accesses to prevent the movement of people who do not live there. Despite the control, anyone who needs to go through the road next to the hill ends up stopping and watching the work. This is the case of Paulo who for many years frequented the locality.
“Is very sad. I just ask God to give strength to these firefighters who are there, who are true heroes. I get emotional because I knew a lot about this here. When I used to come here a lot with my grandmother, it was a great joy when I was a child”, recalls Paulo César Santana.
According to the latest bulletin released by the City Hall, so far there are 229 confirmed deaths and 20 people are still missing. Until early this Sunday afternoon, 926 people followed the 13 support points set up in schools of the municipal education network of the Municipality of Petrópolis, in addition to the Rui Barbosa State College.
Source: CNN Brasil
