Families in fear as rains worsen landslides in Brazil

STORY: Buriticupu residents are also afraid their houses will be swallowed by the earth.

Aerial footage shows the dramatic cracks in the ground around the community, with the holes created by the landslides near the community reported to reach 230 feet (70m) in depth and 1640 feet (500m) in width.

“I'm afraid the worst will happen when I’m sleeping, as we see in other cities,” said resident Maria de Jesus Alencar, who added leaving is not an option for her as she has no other property.

According to a local community leader identified as Cruz, the land erosions appeared in 2017 and have been expanding ever since, worsened by the heavy rains in the region.

On March 19, 2023, local media reported that 36 people had to be rescued in the Buriticupu and Santa Luzia municipalities with the help of helicopters because at least five villages were hit by mudslides.