Brazil's disaster: Search for the living and the dead (Feature)

By Ana Maria Pomi Jan 20, 2011, 0:39 GMT

Rio de Janeiro - While the death toll from flooding and mud slides in the southeastern Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro reached 727 Wednesday, heroic rescues and shocking photographs shook the country.

There were dramatic stories, like that of a mother who saved her children's lives by digging with her bare hands until her fingers broke and that of a father who spent two days buried in a mudslide alongside his 15-month-old son, hydrating the child with his own saliva.

These stories of course mix with less inspiring accounts, like those of people stealing food destined for victims of last week's floods and mudslides, and of whole families isolated for days without even water to drink.

Three people were arrested for having allegedly stolen aid. One of them worked as a driver at Rio de Janeiro University, and he reportedly used an official vehicle to steal goods earmarked for flood victims.

In the disaster area, men armed with sticks and whistles spend the night watching over what were once their homes to deter plunderers, the daily Folha de Sao Paulo reported Wednesday.

'Since last week we have been watching the houses to prevent theft. I know they are all bound to be torn down anyway, but we are going to preserve our belongings,' one vigilante was quoted as saying.

The other side of the worst weather-related disaster in Brazil's recent history comes from survivors in makeshift shelters. Many who lost their homes show striking solidarity and optimism amid all the pain.

'We had barely got out of the house when it collapsed right before our eyes,' one refugee told the G1 news website. 'But we are here, alive, we are happy.'

The woman, a mother-of-eight, has a reason to stay positive.

'If I put on a sad face, I'll make everyone else sad too,' she says.

And yet survivors are still grappling with all sorts of horrors. Some who who are mourning the deaths of relatives were relatively lucky - their loved ones had been found, identified and buried.

For others, the grim search drags on over hours and days as they seek their loved ones amidst the sickening smell of decaying bodies, and then wait for official permission for the corpse to be released for burial.

Forensic doctors, with only six refrigeration units at their disposal to deal with the bodies that arrive by the truckful, say they are overwhelmed, and fend off complaints about slow service.

Then there are children who lost one or both parents, and barely survived themselves, often with serious injuries. Psychologists and social workers give them emotional support until a relative can be found to take charge of the children.

For those who lost both parents, a register for adoption has been launched.

Some parents whose children are missing fear the little ones may have not died, but rather been illegally handed over to other families. Rumours have been rife in recent days.

The official number of missing is nearly 300, but officials believe there are scores of others whose relatives have not reported them missing - or have been prevented from doing so because they have been cut off by the floods.

Rain continues across Brazil, and thousands are working to rescue those who remain trapped and to assist survivors.

Survivors themselves, in turn, try to work out ways to keep on living in what looks like a ravaged war zone in the middle of one of Brazil's richest states.

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