Brazilian city in Amazon declares emergency after huge sinkholes appear
Guardian2 days
Brazil: Giant Sinkholes Swallow Parts of Amazon City
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Above: Aerial view of erosions in Buriticupu, Maranhão state, Brazil. Image copyright: Nelson Almeida/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
The Brazilian Amazon city of Buriticupu has declared a state of emergency as massive sinkholes — locally known as "voçorocas" — threaten approximately 1.2K residents among its 55K population. The expanding cavities have already destroyed several buildings.
The municipal government has canceled carnival festivities to redirect resources toward addressing the crisis. It's seeking additional state and federal support to implement emergency measures to contain the sinkholes and relocate affected residents.
Additionally, the authorities have ordered the expropriation of houses in at-risk areas and plan to relocate affected families. However, the municipality admits to lacking the resources and expertise to address the complex situation adequately.
The Spin
Narrative A
The situation represents a preventable disaster caused by decades of inadequate urban planning and environmental mismanagement. Deforestation and poorly regulated development create perfect conditions for catastrophic erosion that threatens entire communities.
